A Time Chosen by God

The joy of Christmas had begun to fill St. Michael's Parish, where the sounds of carols drifted through the air, and parishioners bustled with excitement. Despite pressures from groups like the Holy Concord, the faithful looked forward to celebrating the birth of Christ. By the third night of the novena, an incident cast a shadow over the community, sowing uncertainty.

The next morning, the parish woke to find a new campaign from the Holy Concord in the town square. A banner provocatively declared, "Who is Christmas for? December 25 is a pagan celebration disguised as Christ's birth." Members distributed pamphlets openly criticizing the Church, questioning Christmas's December date and suggesting it was rooted in pagan tradition.

Mateo noticed the unease among his parishioners. Seeing the need to address their confusion, he stepped forward and raised his voice, "My friends, if these words trouble you, let's come together and reflect on the meaning of our faith. Remember, even questions can strengthen our beliefs."

The Holy Concord's leader sneered, saying, "There's nothing biblical about December 25. This date was chosen to align with pagan celebrations—it's not divinely inspired."

His words struck a familiar chord within Mateo, who found himself briefly transported back to a simpler time in his life, a time when he too had grappled with such questions…

It was a chilly December evening. Mateo, then just a boy, stood beside his mother, watching as she arranged small nativity figurines on their living room table. The tree was up, bright with colorful lights, and soft carols played in the background.

"Mom?" Mateo's young voice broke through the quiet hum of the Christmas preparations.

"Yes, dear?" she replied, gently placing a tiny lamb beside the baby Jesus.

"Why do we celebrate Christmas on December 25? Some of my friends said that Jesus wasn't even born in December."

His mother paused, glancing down at her son with a warm smile. "That's a very good question, Mateo. You're not the first to wonder about that."

Mateo's brow furrowed as he processed this, his curiosity mounting. "So… why do we then? If it's not in the Bible, how do we know when to celebrate?"

She took a seat beside him and gently explained, "The Bible doesn't give us an exact date for Jesus' birth, but that doesn't mean we don't have ways to honor it. Early Christians chose December because of its connection to the winter solstice. They wanted to show that Christ was like a light coming into the darkness of the world. Do you remember what the Gospel of John says?"

"Yes," he nodded, remembering their family readings, "Jesus is the Light of the World."

"Exactly, sweetheart. December is a dark month in many parts of the world, but we light candles, we put up bright decorations, and we celebrate that Jesus came to bring light and hope. And remember," she added with a wink, "we're not just celebrating a date—we're celebrating a promise that God kept."

Still curious, Mateo asked, "But what about the pagans? People say it's just a holiday made from their ideas."

His mother nodded thoughtfully, choosing her words with care. "In a way, yes. But the early Christians didn't keep the traditions the same—they transformed them. They made them about Jesus. So even if others had celebrations in December, we make it holy by remembering Christ. We aren't celebrating like the pagans; we're celebrating the God who made the world, who came to be with us."

Mateo's eyes lit up with newfound understanding, the warmth of his mother's words reassuring him. From that day on, the date became less important than the meaning behind it. As he grew, he carried this understanding with him, finding comfort in the wisdom his mother had shared.

Mateo returned from his memory with renewed confidence, turning to the parishioners gathered before him. "You see," he said, "Christmas isn't just about a day on the calendar. It's about the Light of the World coming to be with us. Early Christians chose this date intentionally to proclaim Christ as the fulfillment of every ancient hope."

The Concord leader, scowling, attempted another attack. "If this date has no biblical basis, then it's man-made. How can you follow such an empty tradition?"

Mateo felt his parishioners' hesitation, but he responded with quiet assurance. "In the Gospel of Luke, we're told that the angel Gabriel visited Mary when her cousin Elizabeth was six months pregnant with John the Baptist (Luke 1:26-36). If we place John's birth around late June, six months later brings us to late December for the birth of Jesus. It may not be explicitly stated, but we've preserved these details to honor God's plan."

The leader scoffed, his patience waning. "That's just interpretation! The Church has no real authority to set a date, especially one with pagan roots!"

Mateo's voice remained steady. "Christ didn't enter into a vacuum; He entered into a world full of cultures and customs. And He transformed it, showing us how to take what is good and make it holy. Paul reminds us, 'The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit' (Romans 14:17). Our traditions don't detract from our faith; they enrich it by helping us to remember, live, and celebrate Christ's life."

One of the Concord members took an angrier tone, claiming that Catholic practices were simply "pagan rituals" dressed in new clothes. Mateo answered with conviction, "My friends, our practices aren't empty. They point us toward God. Jesus himself told us that 'Nothing outside a person can defile them by going into them. Rather, it is what comes out of a person that defiles them' (Mark 7:15). It's not our celebrations that make us holy—it's our heart's devotion."

Turning back to his parishioners, Mateo said, "Our celebrations, our traditions—they help us remember, live, and honor the mystery of God. Christmas isn't a mere festival; it's our response to God's love. We hold Christmas as sacred not for the day itself but because it represents our Savior's love and His desire to dwell with us. Nothing about that is empty."

The Concord members, visibly irritated, muttered among themselves, and their leader issued a final warning: "This isn't over. We'll return."

Mateo watched them go, then turned to his parishioners with compassion. "Don't let these words shake your faith. Christmas reminds us that God is with us in every struggle. It's a season of love, of the hope that was born to us, fulfilling the promise given through prophets long ago."

Moved by his words, the parishioners felt their faith renewed, embracing the deeper meaning of their faith and preparing to celebrate Christmas with greater conviction.

Reflection Questions

Personal Reflection: How does reflecting on the meaning of Christmas strengthen your understanding of the season and its traditions?

Spiritual Reflection: In what ways do the traditions of Christmas help you connect with God's love and the hope He brings?

Church Reflection: How can you use the tradition of Christmas to inspire your faith community and resist challenges to the Church's teachings?