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Reclaiming Christmas December 2007
Recently, I read an article
written by a high school student entitled ‘Reclaiming the real Christmas
before it goes year-round”. He wrote, “It’s getting near Christmas,
but there’s no pressure because I finished my Christmas list in October
before I went trick-or-treating. I’m still thinking about more things
that I may want. I’ll probably shoot for a hefty addition to my already
glorious sock and underwear drawer and maybe some equipment for my I-pod.”
“And as far as hardened
Christmas traditions go, I’ll probably go to the mall for a little
last-minute shopping and an extended stay on Santa’s knee. I was thinking
about going to services to learn about the true meaning of Christmas
when I realized I could get the same message from a delightfully animated
“Charlie Brown” Christmas special. Plus, if I go to church I have
to wear shoes and long pants….” “We’ve lost control of Christmas. It’s become an enormous, unstoppable beast. Christmas has devoured December with ease, dominated November and is moving into October. When I can go to the Halloween Superstore and then go next door to find an impressive array of ornaments, we’ve lost our minds. We might as well have Christmas every two months, so there’s never pressure to beat the crowds. We need to take a look at our lives and consider what Christmas is really about. If you think the answer is in the presents, think again, because you are wrong.” We are often seduced
into thinking that Christmas is about finding that perfect gift. Many
of our conversations focus on that Christmas list, what cookies we’ve
baked, what line we’ve waited in, and how everyone gets stressed this
time of year. The day after Thanksgiving
is often the busiest shopping day of the year. Stores push for record
sales as more and more merchandise fills the shelves. You see, everyone
is shopping for that special “something.” Indeed, our shopping craze
has become somewhat of a national pastime. Actually, it’s really
nothing new. If we go back in time over 2000 years ago, we read about
a bustling Bethlehem where people in Israel traveled to their birthplace
in order to be counted for the census. We know that it was so crowded,
that first Christmas in Bethlehem, that Mary and Joseph found no room
at the inn. It was busy, and I wonder if anyone besides the shepherds
and God’s creation even noticed the birth of Christ? I often wonder
the same thing about people today. While we are so busy
buying gifts and getting ready for Christmas, how many of us actually
take time to experience and recognize the importance of Christ’s birth
in our lives? Truly, one of the greatest gifts ever given to human kind
was God becoming man through his son Jesus, so that we could be in relationship
with our creator! Christmas is a time to remember and celebrate both
the birth and life of Jesus. Christmas is not a time to count gifts
on our Christmas list, but to account for why and how we celebrate
the birth of our Lord. Please take time to pray,
meditate and reflect on a few powerful hymns of our Holy Church. Allow
these words to penetrate your heart, to stir you soul to this great
gift of God becoming man! Pray it often, memorize it, and pass these
prayers to others and listen to God’s gentle response: “Oh Christ what shall
we offer You for coming on earth as a man for our sake? Every creature
that has its being from You gives thanks to You: the angels offer hymns
of praise, the heavens give a start; wise men present their gifts and
the shepherds, their wonder; the earth provides a cave and the desert
a manger. As for us, we offer You a Mother, a Virgin Mother. O God who
are from all eternity, have mercy on us!” Holy Nativity Vespers “The One whom the universe
cannot contain, how was He contained within a womb? He who is in the
Father’s bosom, how can He be carried in a mother’s arms? All this
happened as He Himself had ordered and willed, and as He pleased. He
who was not limited by a human body chose to become incarnate:
for our sake, He became what He was not before. He shared our nature
without losing his own. Christ is born with two natures to perfect the
heavenly world. “ Holy Nativity Matins Let us make every effort,
amidst all the busyness, to quiet our souls and remember the true meaning
of this joyous season. Consider opening your bible and reading the Christmas
story in the book of Luke. Read Isaiah’s prophesies about the coming
of Jesus. Rededicate your life to prayer and ask God to help you live
out and experience the words you pray St. Athanasios said,
“Christ became man so the human person may become more God-like! May
we commit ourselves and one another and our whole life to Christ our
God. May the joy of Christ’s birth inspire you to grow in His grace
and love always. Source: |