"It was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not experience death until he had seen the Anointed of the Lord." -Luke 2:26
Sometimes when we look at the manger scene, we don't see how we fit into Christmas. We see figures from ancient times in a distant land. Yet how do we live Christmas in the here and now?
Thank God the reality of Christmas is not limited to a particular time or place. Christmas transcends geography and chronology. It is not a matter of exterior circumstances but of the heart. Christmas is an "inside job," a movement "of the Holy Spirit, Who is within" (1 Cor 6:19). The reality of Christmas does not happen by our might or power but by the Spirit (Zec 4:6).
Without being at the manger and before seeing the Christ Child, Simeon already experienced the Christ of Christmas because "the Holy Spirit was upon him" (Lk 2:25). The Spirit guides us to all truth, including Christmas (Jn 16:13).
Let's ask the Father to stir into flame the gift of the Holy Spirit (2 Tm 1:6ff). "The way we know we remain in Him and He in us is that He has given us of His Spirit" (1 Jn 4:13). The Spirit is also the way we know the reality of Christmas. Come, Holy Spirit of Christmas.
Father, today pour out anew on me the Holy Spirit of Christmas so I may meet the Christ of Christmas.
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