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The
Advantage of Religious Christmas
December
12, 2004 Homily
Fr.
George Smiga
Matthew
11:2-11
Christmas
is a cultural phenomenon. It is also a religious belief. There
is a great advantage in keeping the similarities and the differences
between these two Christmases clear. That is why today I want
to spend a few moments comparing and contrasting cultural
Christmas with religious Christmas.
Cultural
Christmas has a tremendous
impact on all of our lives, certainly an economic one. Without
increased Christmas sales most retailers would not be able
to survive. Yet the influence of cultural Christmas
is not limited to money, for it also conveys to our society
a set of spiritual beliefs. People who do not believe in Jesus
or even in God are nevertheless influenced by cultural
Christmas. At this time of year they feel an increased
importance of family; an invitation to be more generous, to
be more giving and forgiving, and to care for one another.
Whenever we listen to a cultural Christmas song
or watch a T.V. special it is likely that these spiritual
values will be present, inviting us to care for one another,
to work for peace, to make the world a better place. If you
go and see the movie The Polar Express you will
hear the admonition: “never forget the magic, the mystery
of Christmas.” The movie is encouraging us to be the best
people, the most loving people we can be. Now are these spiritual
beliefs of cultural Christmas valuable? Absolutely.
Should we as believers espouse them? Certainly.
But
here is where the difference between cultural and
religious Christmas comes into focus. We as believers
espouse more about Christmas than what cultural
Christmas would propose. We believe that Christmas is more
than just us loving one another. It is God loving us. We believe
that the most important thing about Christmas is not about
what we do or should do, but about what God has done and continues
to do. In other words, we believe in the Incarnation. That
truth of our faith that tells us that God took up a human
nature; that God became one of us; that God became Savior
for the world. That primacy of what God did and continues
to do in our lives is at the heart of religious Christmas.
It certainly is reflected in all the scriptures. Today's scriptures
would be a good example. Isaiah says, “God is coming to save
us.” The letter of James says, “The Lord is near.” And in
Matthew's gospel we see John the Baptist presented as “the
one who is preparing the way of the Lord.” The scriptures
see the action of God as primary, and that action is certainly
at the heart of religious Christmas.
So
you can see by this explanation that the relationship between
cultural Christmas and religious Christmas
is not simple; it is complex. The two are not opposed to one
another because both are promoting peace, forgiveness, and
love among people. And yet religious Christmas believes
more, for it believes in the centrality of God's action, which
cultural Christmas does not include.
Here
is where the real advantage of being a person of faith emerges.
When we approach Christmas from a religious perspective there
is more potential for joy and love. For if all Christmas is
about is us loving one another, forgiving one another, working
for peace in our world; then, as beautiful as those motivations
are, there is not really much hope. Because if the mystery
of Christmas depends upon us and our ability to produce it
– the future is not bright. We are really not that good at
loving or at forgiving. Look at the world in which we live:
how many places are characterized by hatred, by war, by violence.
Look how we struggle even to forgive the people who are close
to us; how we move along trying to make our lives work among
the brokenness of our relationships and the stresses within
our own family. As much as we desire love, and forgiveness,
and peace, if accomplishing those things rest in our hands
only – there is not much reason for optimism. But when we
adopt the religious aspect of Christmas, everything changes.
For if God has become one of us; if the Word has become flesh;
if God continues to work in our midst to bring about love
and reconciliation and peace; then the whole burden is not
simply upon us. Then we trust that God is active, and where
God is active what is impossible becomes possible. When God
is active in our world, then despite all of our shortcomings,
there is reason for hope.
So
I encourage you to embrace the values of cultural
Christmas. Go out and see The Polar Express . Look
forward to chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Be thankful
for your Christmas cards that have Frosty the Snowman on them.
They all point to the magic, to the warmth, to the love of
this season. But, if you really want magic and warmth and
love; then be thankful that you are a believer. Be thankful
that you believe in God who is active in our world. For if
God became flesh, if God is Emmanuel, then the promises of
Christmas are much more likely to happen. If God continues
to act in our world and in our life, then despite all of our
shortcomings we can be confident. Then we can not only sing
about a Christmas of magic, of warmth, and of love, but with
God's help we can find it and live it.
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