As we celebrate Christmas, we will continue to look back on that first Christmas, though not all will come from the book of Matthew.  The book of Luke gives us a more detailed account of that first Christmas, including why Mary and Joseph were in Galilee, by the order of the government, and the fact that there was no room in any inn for them.  We also learn about the shepherds being the first ones to receive the good news of the birth of Christ.  We might have thought that the announcement would have gone to the leaders of the world, or at least to the religious leaders, but it went to a group of lowly shepherds instead.  The message of Christ today goes first to an individual, or a group of individuals, who are just as lowly as those shepherds before God, no matter how much they may possess of the things of this world.  The gospel will never come from the dictates of the leaders of this world, but will always spread outward from individuals.  The shepherds believed the message of the angels and went to see this miraculous birth for themselves.  Ultimately, that is what each individual must do, and what better way to celebrate Christmas than to go see Jesus for ourselves.  We, as followers of Christ, must keep Christ at the center of Christmas.  As we celebrate Christmas, with our trees and decorations, gifts and dreams of snow, let us not forget that the day is a celebration of the birth of Christ first.  We need to still marvel at the fact that Jesus came to earth to die for the sins of all people.  The only gift we can really offer Him is our life in obedience to His will.  So, this Christmas, may those who are followers of Christ reach out to those around them with the gospel of Christ and the love of God, which is what we are called to do.