Christmas Time is Now

Today is Christmas...Merry Christmas to you all! We Orthodox say "Christ is born! Glorify Him!"

Along with greetings, Christmas Carols sung at the end of Liturgy, hymned possibly since their composition, by Isaac Watts, 1709 and G.F. Handel, 1742--Joy to the World, for example, are sung.

Interesting enough, when we use the English language, to talk about an event that has happened in the past, we use the past and not the present tense of the word. I have always wondered why then in the first verse, the song reads that the "Lord IS come;" Instead, should it have read, the Lord has come? A past event.

The birth of Christ was around 4 B.C., certainly that was a long time ago.

Pondering the text and the meaning of the words, was it written that way purposefully to imply another meaning. "Christ born in us", can only be done in the present. The song confirms this with the words "Let every heart prepare Him room."  A past event, connects us in the present. What a magnificent song.  The pre-eternal God was born as a little child for us and all generations to come, when He is born in the manager of our hearts.

Having "existence" IS to BE. God IS eternal. Our design is Eternal when He exists in our hearts.

The song continues..."And heaven and nature sing." All God's creatures are created to Glorify Him, in heaven and on earth. The image here is very powerful.

"The Lord IS come; Let earth receive her King;" and "Repeat the Sounding joy, Repeat the Sounding joy, Repeat, Repeat the Sounding JOY!"

Joy to the World...Eternally!