catholicsphere

Today is the day we’ve been waiting for. Today is the day when all of our preparations “pay off”. Our Christmas Joy has arrived ….

Or has it already gone?

If it has gone, perhaps its necessary to stop and ask, “what happened?” You sought out, and possibly found, all the Bigger and Better Gifts to get for all your loved ones, you’ve tried to paint that perfect fairy tale setting in your Seeking Christmas Joy. In doing so, you were all Busy-ness, making the Final Preparations for that perfect Christmas that you may recall from your childhood years, or maybe more recent ones.

Yet, I tried to tell you that It’s Not The Presents Under Your Tree. Our anticipation of Christmas is to prepare to celebrate the coming of our Lord and Savior, so that we may finally say O Come, Emmanuel.

In Him we can receive, instead of trying to capture, Christmas Joy. Unlike the presents that were received, this one will never break, or tarnish, or take up too much room. Instead of creating clutter, the Gift of Christ Jesus, and His Spirit, will help us to remove the clutter. And, perhaps the best of all, is that you can take this gift with you wherever you go. In doing so properly, you will always have a gift to pass on to others, without having to give away your own gift.

Tomorrow, when people ask you if you had a good Christmas … you can tell them “Yes”, and show them the true and lasting Christmas Joy that you’ve received. And, the best thing of all is that you have not missed the Christmas season … in the Church, we are now in the full swing of the Christmas season … from now until January 9th — the Monday after Epiphany (Jan 8th) being the feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

You have not missed it. Celebrate it in truth and love.

May God bless you and your family.

(Just a quick final note to say that this blog will be available during the next week, but no new posts will be made until after the new year. I look forward to 2006, and providing you with a solid source of Catholic information and commentary. And, I look forward to hearing more from you in the comboxes (comment box, available by clicking the “Comments” link under the title of each post. I pray that the new year will be filled with blessings for you and all of your family).