I am........the reason for the season!

As we approach Christmas it is good to put aside the food, gifts and family time to focus on the "reason for the season" the Lord Jesus Christ. To not focus first and foremost on Christ takes the Christ out of Christmas and you end up with a ..............mas. A time without meaning beyond the temporal.

Todays writer Catherine of Siena (1347-1380) writes a style of metaphor common to the Middle Ages and foreign to post reformation Christians about the "The Bridge". While difficult understand to it creates a word picture of Jesus being a bridge through the cross to "the Father". Which for us is good to focus on in this Christmas season. You may say but that is an Easter theme and to a certain extent is true. But for me if  we don't acknowledge the work of the cross then the significance of Christmas does not make complete sense. The Father sent has Son so that we might be reunited with him. This begins with one the most significant events in human history........... the birth of the Christ Child, Immanuel "Christ with us"

Jesus said of himself That I AM the way the truth and the life. We could do to focus on that this season . He is the only way to the Father, He is the truth that will show you the way and lastly he is the life that you will gain on the way as you on Christlikeness. In an age were Hope is in short supply for many this is a story of hope and redemption that we cannot afford to put off to the side.

As Richard Foster commented Catherine's work has echoes in the 20th Century in the Simon and Garfunkel song Bridge over troubled if we use that as an analogy it may become clearer. Jesus indeed is our bridge in the troubled world we live in.

May you have blessed time with you those you love this Christmas but...................acknowledge your "first love" then all will be well whatever happens!

I love that bottom  statement about what you are hear!. What you listening for this Christmas?