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Put Christ Back in Christmas
By Rev. Dr. Daniel Mercaldo
Gateway Cathedral, Staten Island, New York
Well, what do you know! The predictions are in for the lowest sales in years as the Christmas season comes upon us. What that will mean for the economy is bleak, but it may mean something good for the spiritual tone of the upcoming holidays.
Maybe, just maybe, there will be a greater sense of what Christmas is really all about!
Perhaps we’ll put a little more of CHRIST back in CHRISTmas. Who knows, this could be the new beginning of the return of the message and meaning to the Season.
For too long, our Christmases have looked too much like the American parody of Luke 2, as expressed so truthfully in the funny, yet sobering “Joy to the Mall.” It goes like this: And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from the U.S. Treasury, that all of America should go shopping. (And this decree was first made when leading economic indicators dipped to their lowest point.) And all went out to shop, each to his own mall.
And a Christian also went up from his suburban home to the city with its many malls because he wanted to prove he was from the household of prosperity. And with him was his wife, who was great with economic worry. And so it was, that, while they were there, they found many expensive presents, pudgy-faced dolls, trucks that turn into robots, and a various assortment of video games. And the woman wrote checks for those they could afford and charged the rest on many different kinds of plastic cards. She wrapped the presents in bright paper and laid them in the garage; for there was no room for them in her closet.
And there were in the same county children keeping watch over their stockings by night. And, lo, Santa Claus came upon them, and they were sore afraid (expecting to see the special effects they had seen in the movies). And Santa said to them, “Fear not; for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people who can afford this holiday. For unto you will be given this day, in your suburban home, great feasts of turkey, dressing, and cake - and many presents. And this shall be a sign unto you: you shall find the presents, wrapped in bright paper, lying beneath an artificial tree adorned with tinsel, colored balls, and lights.”
And suddenly there was with Santa Claus a multitude of relatives and friends, praising one another and saying, “Glory to you for getting me this gift; it’s just what I wanted.”
And it came to pass, as the friends and relatives were gone away into their own homes, the parents said to one another, “I sure am glad that’s over. What a mess! I’m too tired to clean it up now. Let’s go to bed and pick it up tomorrow.” And when they had said this, they remembered the statement that had been told to them by the storekeepers: “Christmas comes only once a year.” And they that heard it wondered at those things that were sold to them by the storekeepers, but the children treasured all their things in their hearts, hoarding their toys from each other. And the parents, after a drink, went to bed, glorifying and praising each other for all the bargains they had found in the stores.
For too long, that’s exactly what our Christmases have looked like. It reminds me of the little girl who was trying to remember how to pray the “Lord’s Prayer” and got mixed up about this time of the year and prayed, “Forgive us our Christmases as we forgive those who Christmas against us.”
But, just dream with me about having a “right” Christmas, along with a “white” Christmas! That kind of Christmas would result in hearts filled with Christ, churches filled with people, and the whole earth filled with peace and good will for all.
If there was ever a time when New York City and America needed a true Christmas, it is this year! Maybe, just maybe, we are finally ready for that kind of Christmas again. I am, how about you?
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