Why Christmas Is Celebrated at Night

Archdiocese of Washington ^ | 12-22-15 | Msge, Charles Pope

[metmom]

Mary did not give birth in the way humans would give birth.

Another fairy tale without a shred of Scriptural support. If that's the case, then Jesus did not share fully in our humanity.

[metmom]

Well, then, don’t start the flaming and there won’t be any.

[metmom]

Then why not be honest and say these things 'may' have happened instead of claiming facts impossible to know???

Nothing like pure speculation to build church doctrine and teaching on.

Honestly, it's more important that He came, not when.

Trying to figure it out is like trying to figure out how many angels can dance on the head of a pin.

[metmom]

Well, the *this day* kind of precludes it meaning an era, as in Lincoln’s day.

We’re probably not even correct about the day itself that He was born much less what time in the day it was.

It’s not important. What’s important is that He came.

I don’t see why someone would waste time trying to convince everyone else that it was a certain time of day. A lot of the reasons Msge Pope gives sound all nice and educated, but don’t mean a hill of beans. They just sound good and make people feel all warm and fuzzy.

[Mrs. Don-o]

He seems to be full o' that don't-mean-a-hill-o'-beans light-imagery stuff.

It don't mean nothin'. It's just Bible-talk.

[NYer]

Wonderful article!

Totally agree. Midnight mass is so very special. We always have a large turnout.

[trisham]

I’ve always loved it.

[NewCenturions]

Thank you for rescuing this post!

[Biggirl]

Thank-you and God Bless. Merry Christmas!

[Biggirl]

Second it.

[Biggirl]

Thank-you for making my Christmas. God Bless.

[Iscool]

Mary did not give birth in the way humans would give birth. Besides many women receive visitors hours after giving birth. What is being posted here is about the virgin birth of Christ.

All mammals give birth the same way...So what then, did Mary lay an egg??? How did she give birth if not like the rest of humans???

[vladimir998]

“All mammals give birth the same way”

No they don’t. Although most mammals are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young, there are five species of monotreme, the platypuses and the echidnas, which lay eggs.

It always helps to know what you’re talking about.

[Iscool]

No they don’t. Although most mammals are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young, there are five species of monotreme, the platypuses and the echidnas, which lay eggs.

It always helps to know what you’re talking about.

Well maybe they are not true mammals...You believe everything science tells you???

[vladimir998]

“Well maybe they are not true mammals...”

But they are.

“You believe everything science tells you???”

Do you believe every woman has to give birth the way science tells you when the baby happen to be the Son of God?

[Yosemitest]

"However, these old theories can on ]no\longer be sustained.
The decisive factor was the connection of creation and Cross, of creation and Christ's conception."

They always want to get away from the FACTS given in the Bible.

Christ was just 6 months younger than John the Baptist (Luke 1:26,36).
Now go to Luke 1:5 and read about

"Zacharias, OF THE COURSE OF ABIA [Abijah in Hebrew]" ...
"executed the priest's office before God IN THE ORDER OF HIS COURSE, according to the custom of the priest's office, his lot was to burn incense when he went into the Temple of the Lord" (Luke 1:8,9) .

According to I Chronicles 24:10, the course of Abijah was the eighth in order.
Zacharias was ministering in the ninth week AFTER the beginning of God's first month Nisan.

The reason it was the ninth week and not the eighth is
that the Passover season always occurs in the first month and during the third week.
Since all 24 courses served that particular week,
according to the laws set down by David,
this means that Zacharias officiated during the ninth week after the beginning of Nisan, the first month in spring.

But on what days did Zacharias serve?

The year in which all of this occurred was 5 B.C.
The first day of Nisan in this year was a Sabbath,
the very day on which the first priestly course began its ministration.
On our Romans Calendar, this day was April 6.
Thus, by simple arithmetic, Zacharias, who served in the ninth week, was serving from Iyar 27 to Sivan 5 (June 1- June 8).
This was the time he was told his wife was going to conceive and bear a son.

There was no chance of Zacharias leaving immediately after the ninth week to return home.
Why?
Because the next week was a Holy Day "week" - it was Pentecost !
Zacharias was obliged to remain over one more week with the other 23 priestly courses and serve in the Temple.
This extra service kept him in Jerusalem until Sivan 12, or June 15.
At that time he was free to return to his home in the hill country about 30 miles south of Jerusalem.

Now, go back to Luke 1:23 and read again.

"... as soon as the days of his ministration were accomplished, he departed to his own house."

Luke 1:24 Zacharias returned home immediately after his ministration and THEN his wife conceived .
Luke 1:20 Gabriel had told him that he was to remain dumb, completely speechless UNTIL the child was born.

It should be obvious that no man would want to stay in such a condition - and certainly no longer than necessary.
And too, Zacharias was a righteous man and was anxious to see God's command fulfilled.
So, with reasonable assurance, Elisabeth must have conceived sometime immediately after Pentecost week!
This week was from Sivan 12 to Sivan 19 (mid-June).

With this information we are able to come to the exact season for John the Baptist's birth.
The human gestation period is very near 280 days or 9 months and 10 days.
If we go forward this amount of time from about Sivan 16 or mid-June in 5 B.C., we arrive at ABOUT the first of Nisan (March 27th) 4 B.C.
The birth of John the Baptist was undoubtedly near this time - in the very early spring.

Now, let us come to the main question:

What about the birth of Christ ?
The Gospel says that Christ was just 6 months younger than John the Baptist (Luke 1:26,36).
And, by adding this six months to the time of John's birth (the 1st of Nisan), we come to about the 1st of Tishri or near mid-September for the birth of Christ.
So again, we arrive at an early autumn birth for Christ.
So Christ was NOT born in the winter after all !

Don't take my word for it.
Look the sources up yourself.
And finally, TRUST YOUR BIBLE.
Don't put your faith into the word of any man.

[Yosemitest]

Be sure to read comment #56 for REAL Bible PROOF !

If you have any proof FROM the bible that you want to add to disprove this, and support your "CUSTOMS OF MEN", then please ... enlighten me.

[CodeToad]

Your interpretation of the Bible isn’t necessarily someone else’s.

[Iscool]

Do you believe every woman has to give birth the way science tells you when the baby happen to be the Son of God?

Has nothing to do with what science tells me...It comes merely with observation...But yes, all human woman have babies the same way...Normal birth or C-section...

[Yosemitest]

The Bible interprets itself.
It's not up to the interpretation of men.
Have you not read John 5:47 or John 1:1-15 ?
Have you not read of the honour of kings is to search out a matter.

The lengths some people will to to TURN THEIR BACKS against the Bible to hold onto the "commandments of men" ... astonish me.