A Different Church Each Dawn

Read on December 12

Story provided by Cristina

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.” —Matthew 5:9

Cristina grew up in the Catholic faith and has fond memories of an early 4 a.m. Mass she attended for nine consecutive days leading up to Christmas Eve. The churches where she grew up were decorated with colorful Filipino lanterns called parol, and each had a large nativity scene on display. Her church youth group would visit a different church each dawn, experience the Mass, and then enjoy the different Christmas decorations at each church. 

For Cristina, Christmas wasn’t about the parties and the gift-giving as much as it was a celebration of the holy season. Her grandparents had migrated to the Philippines to escape communism. Her family had adapted to some of the Filipino traditions but didn’t celebrate Christmas like most of their neighbors. For example, Cristina didn’t grow up believing in Santa.

When Cristina met and married her husband, Russell, Christmas traditions became a negotiation. How would they celebrate? Would they teach their child about Santa, as Russell had enjoyed, or would they do something different? 

When their daughter was old enough to understand that “Santa” brought presents, they discussed what they should do. They didn’t want their daughter to miss out, but, at the same time, they didn’t want her to believe that Santa was the most important part of Christmas either. 

So they created a new tradition, one they still enjoy today. 

Each Christmas morning, a gift awaits their daughter with a tag that says, “From Jesus.” They wanted her to believe that Jesus gives the best gifts. In fact, they taught her that “all gifts,” even those presents people believe are from Santa, are really from God anyway. 

If you had one wish for your “Jesus gift,” what would it be?

There are a lot of spoofs done of beauty pageant contestants who answer a question like that with the words, “World peace.” But, world peace is the main point of the Christmas story. 

The angel told the shepherds they would find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. Then the heavens opened up, “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 among those with whom he is pleased!’” (Luke 2:13–14).

Let’s share the peace of God and the peace of Christmas today. 

That would be a “Jesus gift” to give.