“We
all experience firsthand the sad effects of this blind submission to pure
consumerism; in the first place a crass materialism, and at the same time a
radical dissatisfaction, because one learns quickly that the more one
possesses, the more one wants.” John Paul II
What
makes a “good” Christmas? I’m sure the answers will vary because each of
us has priorities of our own. For some, being with family is a “good”
Christmas. For others a “good” Christmas is defined by the presence of
children. There are many others depending upon circumstances of the day.
Yet
for so many others, a “good” Christmas has no meaning one way or the
other. It is like any other day; a day in which our health is still
failing, a day in which the uncertainties of a job still linger, a day without
friends or family. It is just another lonely day filled with fear and
doubt.
Though
we do curse the consumerism that pervades the season and we moan (or scream on
social media!) when someone refuses to say “Merry Christmas”, the truth is our
priorities do not often include the celebration of the Incarnation of
Messiah. He is an afterthought, an incidental to the holiday rather than
the Primary Focus of the Holy Day. I doubt very much that anyone heads to
a department story for a special sale on the particular thing we have in mind
with a sole focus on The Lord.
Yet
the late Pope John Paul II observed the one thing we should surely know: the
more we have, the more we want. When we measure satisfaction on any scale
according to our resources, it is a rare thing that we ever have “enough”.
Whether it is money or material possessions, we miss out on the greatest Gift
of all when we put any thing or any one ahead of Christ – even as
we insist that “Jesus is the reason for the season”. Merely saying
it does not make it so – not in the eyes of unbelievers who watch carefully for
any sign of faith, any sign that there is a reason for hope. They believe
what they see.
If
we really want this Holy Day to be the very best Christmas we have ever
experienced, Christ must come first. No family gatherings, no friends at
a feast, no opening of presents … until we have offered our very best to The
Lord in word AND deed. Once we find our way of doing this, the family
gatherings, the welcoming of friends, and the opening of presents will have new
meaning. And we will find blessings we have been missing all along.
Come
soon, Lord Jesus!
Michael
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