Putting Christ in Christmas and Your Life.

There is always a lot of talk this time of year about the commercialization of Christmas and the attempts to make it a non-religious holiday. How interesting that those who wish to take Christ out of Christmas still want the celebrations and gifts...just under a different name. What they don't understand is that without Christ, you are left with just another self indulgent and mass marketed attempt to display our gluttony.

Like the shepherds who came in from the fields to find the child in the manger, we must watch and listen for the calling of Christ in our own lives. While they may have been given a bright shining star to follow, we are given the words of the adult Jesus to seek and find Him. When I was hungry you gave me to eat. When I was thirsty you gave me to drink. When I was a stranger, you took me in. Naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came unto me. These are the words that are the base of work for the Sister's of Charity and by the most Blessed Mother Theresa. And Theresa did not wait for those who hungered and thirst, were strangers, naked, sick or in prison to come knocking on her door. She sought out Christ. She has now entered into the house of our Father, but leaves us a bright shining star to follow.

In these days of "work stress" and "time constraints" we find that many make excuses for not aiding Christ on His journey. Excuses for not making room at the table for Christ as the stranger. Not caring for Christ the ailing. Not visiting Christ in his prison.

This Christmas may we all see Christ in need. May we hear the call of Christ at our door. May we welcome Him into our hearts and follow Him to the house of our Father. May we truly put Christ in Christmas in our actions and not just in words.

The Ghosts of Christmas Past

"Bah, humbug!" Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge displayed his disdain for Christmas with these memorable words. Yet as we followed Scrooge's journey we learned from his past why he chose to close his eyes to the goodness around him and his heart to those who needed him.

Christmas has a way of dusting off memories that we have put away like the box of decorations in the attic. The season that relies so much on tradition can be painful for those who choose to dwell too much in the past rather than allowing past, present and future to co-exist.

Like magical gifts, memories of the past spring up quite frequently this time of year. Though sometimes painful, they can also help us to go back to a place of importance in our minds and make peace with it, cherish it or learn from it. Though my Grandmother is long gone, Christmas makes me remember pineapple sticks, lottery tickets and Grandma's laughter as she sat on Santa's lap. She created comforting memories for me to remove from an old tattered box, unwrap the tissue paper and display on the mantel of my heart. Heirloom memories to pass on to the next generation.

Christmas is a time of hope and renewal. God gave us a reset button 2000 years ago as a reminder of His forgiveness and His belief in the good that dwells in the hearts of all mankind. It's our job to open our hearts and spread the goodness that we are asked to give. God sends us here to do His work. To herald His message. As we travel to our ultimate goal of life everlasting, Christmas is a benchmark for the joy and goodness that we spread to others. It's also a reminder of what so many others have given us along our journey.