Early this month, the American congress voted to recognize and honour Christmas. Can you imagine that being done in Singapore? Why is there a need? Facts are facts.

Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus, and although we all take it for granted, we actually date our years from the time he was born.

But I suppose that Christmas is like happiness. Everyone hopes to be happy. Everyone wants to have a happy life. But not everyone will agree on what it takes to make him or her happy. Everyone is happy to have a public holiday on Christmas. But not everyone will agree on “who Jesus is” and that “the message” which Jesus brought to people is cause or good reason for rejoicing and happiness.

Now, there are two aspects of what many people do at Christmas that lie at the heart of Christmas, which I would like to draw out. They are the giving and the greetings. Shopping is about getting the gifts. Many people greet friends and families using Christmas card. Actually, the gatherings, the food and decorations, their whole purpose and build up is to come to the point where we can greet or wish or bless one another with a merry Christmas.

Like the dating of our years is connected to the birth of Jesus, the giving and greetings which you see at Christmas are also connected to the birth of Jesus. How many of you have seen the enactment of the 3 wise men bringing gifts to Jesus and the shepherds watching over their flock being greeted by angels from heaven with good news (Luke 2:8-11.) Actually, it was the Magi or kings whom brought precious gifts described as treasures to Jesus, and actually Christmas celebrates the good news that God has given to us the previous gift of his son to save the lives of men and women.

However you see it, Christmas makes a difference in many people’s lives. It is a time when people choose to be happy, kinder to one another, to be generous and giving and to have good wishes for one another. But Christmas is like a Japanese menu with beautiful pictures of the delicious food which can be served. What really matters is getting at the real food which will taste so good and is fulfilling.

The fun and enjoyment, the gifts which you have received, every good thing which has become associated with Christmas is actually pointing to and getting us to know God. God is like food, and in fact there is a phrase in the Bible where God says, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” You can actually get to know God in a real and fulfilling way!

So here is my gift and my greetings to you this Christmas. “May you experience the special presence of God, and come to increasingly know how wonderful and fulfilling he is.”