So Such joy is what Christmas is all about – the joy of feeling God’s hands on your shoulders, making you aware that despite your sins He accepts you and loves you; the joy of knowing that you are included in his offer of redeeming love to the whole world. What wondrous news – that God’s love excludes no one and embraces “all people”! For many years the Hebrews had felt excluded from God’s love. Their disobedience had brought on the wrath of God’s judgment – bondage in a strange land. The prophets gave them hope – the promise of a Messiah who would come and save them. Finally, in “the fullness of time,” he came! Jesus was born as promised! The God whose name is Immanuel arrived; the one born in a cow’s stall is “God with us.” And the best news of all – the “gift” of Jesus is for all people! Especially for those who know the pain of being excluded, the misery of not belonging. The shepherds must have felt unworthy of God’s favor. They had no reason to believe they were included in the Father’s love. The powerful and “important” people would probably have greeted the angel’s good news with skepticism. The shepherds received the news of Jesus’ birth with “great joy.” Some brilliant people have trouble embracing the simple truth of the biblical account of the birth of Jesus. Is it a lovely myth or is it good news for everyone? Each of us must decide. I once had doubts but chose to let faith overrule my doubts. So for me the essential meaning of Christmas is that the great plan of God became a reality when Christ was born. Salvation became available to all people through the birth of Mary’s baby. it overrule So The birth of Jesus then is the best of all Christmas gifts, a gift of accepting love that all who receive it can share it with others. All around us are people who feel excluded from God’s favor. They wait to be shown they belong to God’s family. They are looking for more than a toy under a tree; they long to be embraced as brothers and sisters who are included in the Father’s transforming love. Put your hands on someone’s shoulders this Christmas and know the joy of sharing the best of all Christmas gifts! + + +