Christmas, Not Cancelled

"And the Grinch, with his Grinch-feet ice cold in the snow, stood puzzling and puzzling, how could it be so? It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes or bags. And he puzzled and puzzled 'till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before. What if Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. What if Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more." --Dr. Seuss

All through the lead up to this most joyful season, I was often shocked to hear people lamenting that the supply chain issues would "ruin Christmas." I was amazed as various mayors, governors, Fauci, and even the resident of the White House, for the second year, threatened Christmas gatherings. I could only shake my head at the ignorance of those talking, and those believing the pronouncements.

When the angels went away from them to heaven,

the shepherds said to one another,

“Let us go, then, to Bethlehem

to see this thing that has taken place,

which the Lord has made known to us.”

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph,

and the infant lying in the manger.

When they saw this,

they made known the message

that had been told them about this child.

All who heard it were amazed

by what had been told them by the shepherds.

And Mary kept all these things,

reflecting on them in her heart.

Then the shepherds returned,

glorifying and praising God

for all they had heard and seen,

just as it had been told to them.

-- Luke 2: 15-20

 

Birthplace of Jesus, Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem
Photo by Colleen, August 2010

Christmas is here. The true source of our joy, the Nativity of the Lord, is celebrated beginning today. Despite shipping woes. Despite commercialism. Despite fascist decrees about "shots," and travel and gathering restrictions. This glorious Feast is upon us. And it had nothing to do with the White House Minister of Propaganda claiming "we've saved Christmas."

As I remind people often, the season of Christmas only begins today, December 25. This joyous celebration actually continues until the Feast of Epiphany on January 6. It is disappointing to see the celebrations stop abruptly the day after Christmas, as the lights and decorations suddenly vanish. Surely as Christians we believe the birth of Our Savior is an event worthy of more than a single day of rejoicing. During the troubling times we find ourselves enduring, there seems to be all the more reason to celebrate the joy of the season in its entirety.

However you mark the occasion, may it be spent with family, friends, and good cheer.

Merry Christmas!

Today is born our Savior Christ the Lord.

-- Psalm 96