The Heart of Christmas Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name

him Emmanuel, which means, God is with us. (Matthew 1:23).

Advent is the season for preparation for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a busy season as we spend much time in shopping, gaining gifts, partying with friends and much else that our culture calls us toward in this season. Through it all, we may forget the heart of Christmas. The heart of Christmas is Gods heartGod reaching out to the world in love, in Jesus Christ. Jesus is the reason for the season and it is always on him that our thoughts and passions should be focused. Jesus came to earth, to bring us into a right relationship with God. As John Calvin put it, Apart from Christ, we are estranged from God. Through Christ, we are not only received into Gods favor, but are effective made one with Him (Commentary on Matthew 1:23). This is the good news of great joy (Luke 2:10) of which the angels sang. Jesus makes us one with Goda oneness of love in which sin is forgiven and through which Gods arms embrace us in love. This is the heart of Christmas and where our hearts find their peace and joy! Donald K. McKim