English speakers borrowed the word noel from French. It can be traced further back to the Latin word natalis, which can mean "birthday" as a noun or "of or relating to birth" as an adjective. (The English adjective natal has the same meaning and is also an offspring of natalis.). Noels were being sung in Latin or French for centuries before the word found its way into our language in the 1800s. The earliest known musical use of noel occurred in the text of a Christmas motet called "Nova vobis gaudia," which was written in the 1400s. When we say Noel Noel we are saying, "Birthday Birthday". I will never sing Noel the same.
Christ birthdays all the more reason to celebrate. Everyone likes to have their life celebrated. Birthdays are special. It's even more of a reason to celebrate when you realize that He was born to die. God created us all to live forever. Then, God sent Christ to die. It's hard to wrap your brain around this, but it's the truth. Because Christ came to die we get to celebrate, because of the great exchange! He came to die that we might live.
ACTION STEP: Don't just celebrate Christmas meaning the Christ Mass, celebrate His birthday, your live forever day! As the song so dramatically reveals, the Light of the World given for us. Five days left to finish all the things we consider so important at this time of year. Have you made the finishing touches on your gift back to Him? What did you get Jesus for His birthday this year? I am pretty sure all He asks for is you....all of you.
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