The universal message of Christmas
A Christian Science perspective: The message of Christmas is one of universal, all-inclusive love.
This Christmas I am praying more deeply to understand the universality of the message of Christmas – that God’s love embraces everyone.
The Gospel of Luke records the announcement of the birth of Jesus: “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10, 11).
No one person or group holds the “good tidings of great joy” for itself at the exclusion of others; no one is outside of God’s healing presence. That the saving Christ has come, and is for all people, tells me that the love of God is universal and is eternally with us. It was by his healing works – healing the sick, purifying the hearts and minds of sinners, and raising the dying and dead back to life – that Christ Jesus showed us that the love of God is present and is for everyone.
Christ Jesus himself described the all-embracing reason for his appearance: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:16, 17).
This saving grace of God, the spirit of Christ, which Jesus fully expressed, is an eternally present and healing power. In humble acknowledgment of His grace we see that God’s love embraces each of us. It is clear by the announcement of the “good tidings” that God, divine Love, gives no more to one than another; that Love embraces us not according to religious creeds, race, rich, or poor, but by love.
Mary Baker Eddy, Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science, shared this insight of God’s infinite and unrestricted embrace. She wrote: “God is universal; confined to no spot, defined by no dogma, appropriated by no sect. Not more to one than to all, is God demonstrable as divine Life, Truth, and Love; and His people are they that reflect Him – that reflect Love” (“Miscellaneous Writings 1883-1896,” p. 150).
As I pray to understand the universality of the healing love of God and demonstrate it more in my life, I see that the spirit of Christ unites us. To truly appreciate Christmas is to express this all-inclusive love of God in our thoughts and actions. Reaching out to the creator as Love itself, I see that, as Christ Jesus showed us, we are the children of Love. Through Christ I am able to express more love, patience, and tolerance; I find myself more attentive to the needs of others; and I share an expression of God’s love that comforts and heals. Though my efforts may seem small in comparison to the problems and threats the world currently faces, I have learned that in order to make a difference in the world for the better, answers come as we pray to God and let our prayers impel our actions.
We experience Christmas as as an ever deepening recognition of God’s love for all people and as we grow in our love for one another. In this way we have hope to accomplish the promise Christ Jesus brought for the whole world, “on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).