Celebrating Christmas?

 And, yes, that is a question.

Are you celebrating Christmas? 

For those who are professing to truly, honestly claim that they are celebrating Christmas, I have an even deeper question.

Christmas, in its fully Christian sense, is about celebrating an event that took place some two thousand years ago. It happened, according to certain traditions, in a Middle Eastern village called Bethlehem. Supposedly, it took place during the courase of a Roman government census, an item that presents some difficulty authenticating.

A birth took place in this village of Bethlehem, a most remarkable birth.

Very traditional Christians call it an Incarnation - in the flesh or, perhaps a bit better, into the flesh. The belief is that God chose to become incarnate, enfleshed. God became one of us, one like us, one with us, enfleshed.

God entered into our history in a most remarkable way.

Christmas calls believers to remember and rejoice in the entry of God into our history in a way we could never really imagine.

And this year we have the shortest possible celebration of Christmas. The actual day falls on a Sunday, which makes New Year's Day a Sunday and that results, at least for American Catholics, in the Feast of the Epiphany also being observed on a Sunday, January 8, 2023. And when that happens, we observe the Baptism of the Lord on the day immediately following Epiphany, January 9, 2023.

And that's it!

Christmas is over.

All grown up! Baptized in the Jordan.

Thing is, do we really want Him to grow up?

Do we want this Child to become adult?

Or putting it another way, do we really, honestly want to welcome Him into our history, our lives, our journeys

Do we really want to celebrate Christmas?

No question that we are ready and eager to celebrate the birth of that remarkable Child.

But what happens to that welcome when He grows up?

And He does grow up, has grown up.

Are we ready to hear Him teaching us that we will be known as His disciples by the love we have for one another? Even when that "other" may be a vagrant, homeless nameless one out there on the street or a shivering migrant, huddled and hoping at our country's border?

Are we ready to take Him dead seriously when He tells us to turn the other cheek or find blessedness in being merciful?

As we look at all the prettily packaged stuff under the Tree, how do we hear His words about our Father knowing what we truly need?

Are we ready to hear the words He just may speak about what we are doing to His creation? The air He give us? or the water? or those wonders that populate land, sea and air, wonders so many of which may face extinction unless we care and act?

And possibly, just possibly He may have something to say about the billions we are willing to spend on weaponry while claiming "In God we trust!" Can we hear that teaching about being peacemakers?

He might peak into our classrooms and notice the lack of prayer, but likely He would not be surprised because He just might be hard pressed to find prayer in our homes and families these days. 

He  might have a comment or two about those empty spaces in our church pews these days.

And that may cause Him to ask a question or two about how welcoming we are and open-minded to those whom we deem "different" - because or color or culture or . . .

Christmas, true Christmas, is about an incredible intrusion into our history of God-Made-Human.

And celebrating Christmas is about declaring our eagerness to welcome the One who was born on that day so long ago.

But a true celebration of Christmas is about a welcome that does not stop. It continues long after January 9. It continues each and every day of our lives Not every day provides a full or fitting welcome. But every day is a sincere effort.

Celebrating Christmas is about welcoming the Child of Bethlehem and welcoming the Lad of Nazareth and welcoming the Teacher of Jerusalem.

And welcoming, every day, the Lord of our Life!

Ready to celebrate Christmas?

Well, then, Merry Christmas!