THE spirit which commonly pervades Christendom during the Christmas season is that of rejoicing. For a brief period, at least, there is a turning away from the affairs which so completely absorb us day by day with their monotonous round of obligations, to share in the deeper things of life through giving expression to the season's joy in terms of affection and brotherly-kindness. Christmas is preeminently the season of gladness and good will. Many a heart which during all the preceding months has cherished its own selfish thoughts, closed against the finer impulses of generosity, friendliness, and consideration for others, under the beneficent spell of the Christmas season throws off its constrictions, pouring out its treasures of joy and gladness to the delight of all within its circle of radiant influence. It is as though some unseen power had suddenly dissolved the bonds of selfishness and fear, peace and good will supplanting the bigotry of self-love and greed. The spirit of Christmas is a mighty transformer.
What is the spirit of Christmas? The answer is found in the development of the Messianic idea from its first revelation in the inspired words of the ancient prophets to its fulfillment in the transcendent ministry of Christ Jesus and the discovery of our beloved Leader, Mrs. Eddy. Through the ages, the Messianic idea has been fraught with the sense of rejoicing. Isaiah's prophetic words, "His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace," present a concept of the Christ so exalted that in the thought of the prophet, Christ was synonymous with Deity. Furthermore, "Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end," foretold the forever reign of the Christ, the eternal presence of spiritual truth, the divine ideal. The rejoicing here implied arose from the contemplation of the coming of the millennium, in which the righteous should receive their due reward and the wicked be duly punished. But the triumph of the righteous was to be complete.
In Luke's Gospel we read of the great rejoicing which attended the birth of the Saviour: "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men." Why such rejoicing? Was it not in contemplation of the coming of that glorious era when mankind should learn of the Christ, God's infinite ideal, come to destroy the sins of the world, ushering in the glorious day of peace and love? This assuredly was the purpose of the Christ-message, the great exponent of which had his earthly beginnings in a lowly manger in Bethlehem.
