Happy Holidays

The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10-11).

The last couple of years, there has been controversy over saying "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas." Some religious organizations have gone so far as to urge consumers to boycott business that won’t use "Christmas" in their advertising.

Businesses don’t want to offend customers, especially since merchandisers make 30% of their annual profits after Thanksgiving each year. "Happy Holidays" seems to be inclusive—it offers seasonal good wishes to everyone, regardless of their beliefs.

But the irony is that "Happy Holidays" is a statement soaked in religion. After all, the word "holiday" is only our modern way of saying "holy day." Long ago, people didn’t get time off from work unless it was to attend worship services. Such days were "holy days", days set apart for time with the holy God who created us, cares for us, and blesses us with His love. Over time, "holy day" became "holiday", a day when you were freed from having to labor (certainly there is irony here, as our modern holidays see many people working, especially if employed in food service or sales).

Christmas is indeed a "holy day." It is holy because Christmas celebrates an important anniversary—it recalls the time when God met humankind face to face. In Jesus, God took on the body of a human being, making Him someone we could see and touch, someone we could eat with and walk beside, someone we could listen to and see smiling at us. Jesus was born to people of humble means in a shelter for animals, coming into our world in such a way that even lowly shepherds, dusty from work, would feel just as comfortable in His presence as any wealthy intellectual from the distant east. God coming to live with His people—a holy event to be sure.

Of course, Jesus came to do something important. He came to share God’s holiness with us. He would do this by taking our place—suffering and dying on the cross for all the many ways we have disappointed God, angered Him, betrayed Him. God our Maker should have first place in our thoughts, words and deeds; but so often we barely give Him a thought as we go about our daily routine. It is our nature to focus on "things below", earthly things, at the expense of "things above", heavenly things. And so we anger God and invite His punishment. But out of His great love for us, God sent His Son to make things right on our behalf. All of God’s anger at us was expended on His beloved Son during the dark hours of Good Friday. Because of Jesus, we receive a wonderful exchange—God's wrath is replaced, through forgiveness, with His welcoming love. Speaking of Jesus, Paul writes: God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21). A holy act indeed.

So if anyone tells you "Happy Holidays", don’t get offended. Smile and tell them "Happy Holy Days to you—God’s Son is born!" Christmas is most certainly a "Holy Day."