The Christmas Question

       This morning as I sat in my office sipping my second cup of coffee and skimming through the numerous emails that accrued after a day out sick, I saw one from a student asking me to respond to this question for an editorial in the school newspaper. The question he posed was, "In your opinion as a religion teacher, how can we keep Jesus' birth and the religious aspect of Christmas alive now that it's become so detached?" I am sure the student did not envision any sort of problem with the question itself, but even before I even began to ponder how to answer it,
I was struck by what seemed to me, the oddity of the question and the manner of its phrasing. If I were to reply tartly and perhaps a bit acerbically as I was naturally inclined to, I would have written that it is not my opinion as a religion teacher that matters at all. I could be a poor religion teacher who has beef with Christmas because I always spend the holidays alone. What is important, is coming to a realization of the truth that there is no aspect of Christmas beside the religious aspect. I repeat, it is not my standing as a religion teacher nor my opinion that really matters.
       First of all, what matters is that which is, the truth. Sure it might be nice to hear the opinions of others on certain matters, but if you were to ask me, I would much rather hear the truth of the matter. If you are pursuing the truth, consider who it is you are asking for their opinion so that you do not get lost in the differing responses received. In the whole scheme of things, my opinion really matters less than a tear drop in the ocean unless my opinion is not simply my preference or gut feeling, but the fruit of the logical reasoning of many who have come before me that found its foundation in transcendental principles that are as true today as  in all ages past and future.

       Secondly, there is no non-religious aspect of Christmas. You see, Christmas has to do with something supernatural and so beyond human understanding or comprehension that reducing it to mere material creates a farce indeed. There does not seem to be much of a question for me, because one cannot take Christ out of Christmas or dissect Christmas from the religious. Nevertheless it is a question that ought to be addressed due to the confusion of our world.
       All of our national holidays have some sort of focus, Veterans' Day in recognition of veterans, Memorial Day in recognition of those who died for us, Thanksgiving, in thanks for God's blessings on the Mayflower pilgrims... All have some point of reference, some event or some accomplishment, if you will, that is being remembered. So if Christmas is not about the birth of Jesus Christ, what is it about? If it is about anything other than the birth of Jesus Christ, then it ceases to be Christmas and becomes another celebration altogether and a pointless one at that. The reality is that one cannot retain Christmas without Christ.

       So, how do we keep Christ in Christmas? It seems to me the method is simple; celebrate Christmas as it ought to be celebrated. Take advantage of the season of Advent, its rich heritage and tradition and the many devotional practices contained therein. Mass, confession, adoration, alms-giving, spiritual reading, fasting, abstinence from meat, examining your conscience, and prayer are just some of the ways we can begin to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas. It is in the emptying of ourselves, kenosis, in imitation of Christ, that we prepare our hearts to welcome our Lord when He comes so that he is not left out in the cold like that first Christmas night.

      The Church in her wisdom has ordained this period of preparation for all Christians. It ought to be a time of quiet recollection rather than the chaotic collection of presents, treats, and other goodies. The problem with our world is that we are impatient and cannot wait for the feast to arrive and begin celebrating and gathering before Christmas is even upon us. When it arrives, it seems to pass by far too quickly and we are thrust back into our daily lives with barely a remembrance of the day that just passed. We ought to heed the urging of the Church on these matters and listen to her voice that guides us through each year. In the Church's eyes, every day has a purpose and is directed towards a higher good. The season of Advent that prepares us for Christmas is a very special collection of days because it calls to mind the first Christmas as well as the end of all time with we will meet our Lord in all of His glory. Advent is an eschatalogical season, one that we ought to take most seriously.
       In the life of the Church there is a whole season of celebration for Christmas! We are given a whole season of festive feasting in which to commemorate the birth of the Son of God. The world cheats us of our celebration but Christ and His Church give in rich abundance. We have a whole season of celebration, days upon days of glorious rejoicing in our Savior. Why sacrifice that for the chaos of shopping, baking, cleaning, and cooking. Let us be patient and bask in the quiet glory of our Savior's birth come Christmas, and until then let us continue to pray that our hearts may be softened and opened to make room for Him, the King of the Earth, to be the King of the hearth of our hearts. It is my wish that you have a fruitful, preparatory Advent, and a blessed and peace filled Christmas that lasts a lifetime.