As the holiday season continues, I was reminded of holiday origins and how convoluted our current practices are. I’m putting watching Elf on hold for just a second to reflect on something we often forget during the merriment and cheer.
Bear with me as we briefly look at the etymology for the word holiday. Holiday comes from the Old English word haligdæg, halig = holy + dæg = day, or holy day. These were days intended as holy days of celebration, presumably, religious days of significance. We celebrate Christmas to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, Easter to remember His death and resurrection, and even Halloween (or All Saints’ Day) to honor the saints. Timing for these celebrations were often established to absorb major pagan holidays occurring at those times.
Even though current holidays do not line up with the timing of the original events, I think it’s important to remember that the date and time are not significant. What bears the most weight is the reason behind the celebration. In our case, the who behind them.
It makes perfect sense to me that the holiday season would make us vulnerable to attack. What would delight our “adversary the devil” (1 Peter 5:8) more than to see God’s worship tainted? To see the mighty fall? He “prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” In all the merriment and holiday cheer we tend to let down our guard. The “most wonderful time of the year” has been given a reputation as magical and miraculous with happy endings. While Jesus’ story ended well, we cannot forget the suffering He endured while on earth. Nor should we forget that we are currently in battle; not “against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph. 6:10-13).
We’ve had opportunities to share and ask questions with many people. It’s alarming how prevalent idol worship is and how little thought is given to eternity. Few people think about spiritual things and even fewer have faith in truth. As I was reading this week, this passage resonated with what I’ve witnessed.
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
2 Corinthians 4:3–6
It was right around the beginning of the holiday season that I started to feel physically unwell. It’s common here for people to start getting sick around this time of year. I’ve now had a persistent cough for several weeks that has quickly become a thorn in my side; literally since I strained a muscle while coughing.
Within the last few months (even during the time I have been compiling this post), I’ve received email after email, and message after message, from friends and family members who have either fallen ill, or who have had a loved one fall ill or pass away. All of this in rather quick succession. I’ve lost count of the number of prayers I’ve lifted up for them. I am truly thankful to serve a God who sympathizes with our weaknesses and who gives us hope everlasting.
The sheer volume of tragedies this year have been sobering and truly difficult to endure. There are always challenges when living abroad, but it’s especially hard when you have to watch your loved ones suffer from afar. You want to be there in more tangible ways, but sometimes, it’s just not possible. During my prayers this week, I’ve taken great comfort in knowing that I may be helpless, but my God is not. God, in His great sovereignty, is reminding me that my prayers are sufficient because He will do the work. He has this in every way.
May the Word encourage you as it has encouraged me; to stay vigilant, watchful, and prayerful. In the midst of darkness, let us not forget the true Light. Let us spend the holidays exalting the Holy One and not succumb to the devil’s work. I’m praying for the church to be active, bold, joyful, and full of love as we celebrate Christ.