Christmas has always been my favorite time of the year. Houses, buildings, and street corners adorned with Christmas lights. Bells ringing and cheerful music filling the air.Laughing with family and friends at Christmas parties. Exchanging gifts and experiencing holiday surprises. There’s color, there’s fun, and there’s joy!

There’s so much to see and do during Christmas time. Over the years, I’ve enjoyed celebrating, singing, and getting into the spirit of the season. But oftentimes, I get so caught up in the celebration that I forget to remember what we are really celebrating in the first place.

The season can be filled with distractions that keep us from pausing, reflecting, and celebrating in a meaningful way. I don’t mean to say that Christmas lights, decorations, and parties are distractions–they are beautiful parts of the season that are good if we look at these with meaning and give them purpose.

When we focus our mindset and remember that we are celebrating Jesus, His birth, and the light and hope He brings–our Christmas season can be filled with more meaning. When Jesus is at the center of Christmas, the cheer we bring to holiday parties and the joy we express when we sing will have truth and substance.

Isaiah 25:6 reminds us that when Jesus comes he “will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food.” This is fulfilled in today’s Gospel reading with the miraculous feeding of the four thousand in Matthew 15:29-37. When Jesus comes, He provides us with abundance and life, and this should be cause for celebration.

So, what should we be celebrating? During Christmas time, it’s not about what we are celebrating–it’s about who we are celebrating. Let’s shift our mindset this season to celebrate not the what, but the who. Instead of celebrating because it’s Christmas, we should be celebrating because of Christ, and by doing so, we will find more meaningful joy during this time of the year.