catholicsphere

“Merry Christmas”.

It’s perhaps being said more this year than in recent years, in stores, restaurants, and advertising. But, we need to stop and think for a moment at whether this is as significant as it seems. Christmas has become widely a secular, commercialized season that is more about gift giving and receiving, out-doing your neighbor in Christmas decor, and eating and drinking. Some of the things that occur at Christmas are good, however; perhaps hold outs from a time when Christmas was about something more than seasonal savings. In a majority of cases, Christmas was a time when folks were a bit nicer to their fellow man. Unfortunately, that’s not the overwhelming fact that it was even a decade ago, as people push and shove to get “this years hot present”, or steal the gifts and/or decorations of others, or prey on those willing to give by scamming them and taking the money.

Stores are doing everything they can to get your Christmas dollars — hopefully without calling it Christmas, and potentially losing non-Christmas dollars. It’s all about the presents. Sure, even some stores are talking about Christmas, doing an about-face on wishing “Happy Holidays” or speaking of “Winter Holiday”. But, even if Christmas is being spoken of, the question is: is it with the proper understanding? In my town, there is a billboard, sponsored by the Knights of Columbus, which reads “Keep Christ in Christmas”. The fact that such a thing needs to be said is an indication that, in a predominately Christian country, the truest meaning of Christmas is being lost. And, Christians have lost their effectiveness in sharing that meaning. It makes one wonder whether “the reason for the season” has become boring. Even several so-called “mega-churches” are closing their doors on Christmas — one of the holiest days of the year. Christians and churches have bought into the secular, business side of Christmas, and forget its real significance — aside from making a token stop at church on Christmas Eve, perhaps because that’s what they’ve always done.

Christians need to bring Christ into their homes during this season; and, after that bring Him to the world. Churches need to illuminate the importance of the Nativity, and it’s celebration on Christmas Day. Maybe then “Merry Christmas” will mean what it should to more people.