Christmas Weekday
In today's first reading (1 John 2:29-3:6), John proclaims that the world does not know us Christians because it does not know the Father. And it is also because the world does not know the Father that Christian life can seem so strange and different from secular life. That fact is made all the more apparent at Christmas time.
A friend of mine observed last week that in reality, we have two Christmasses. We have the Christmas of shopping and elves and candy canes and opening presents on December 25th, and then we have the Christmas of Jesus, celebrating God becoming flesh to be with us, a two week Christian celebration of the incarnation. I hadn't much thought of it before. I've seen many people try to bring the two themes together - the red and green food colored cookies together with the white and gold liturgical colors of the season; trying to describe gift giving as being a celebration of the gift God gives us in his Son.
But when push comes to shove, still I find that my six year old does not, in fact, see the gifts under the tree as anything about Jesus, but about what she wants. If I look at the advertising at Christmastime, there too, spending money is all about what we want, not the great gift Jesus offers. And while I love the spirit of generosity and love that I see among so many people at Christmastime (regardless of whether they are Christian or not) our secular Christmas is merely a holiday, something to put back in the closet with all the decorations until next year. By this time in early January, our cultural sensibilities are quickly turned toward our new year's resolutions, the latest diet and budget advice.
For Christians, though, this celebration of the incarnation is meant to spark a year-round lifestyle. John's words in today's gospel message (John 1:29-34) are familiar to us because we hear them at every mass: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world." Every mass we attend is, in a way, a reminder of Christmas and the gift of God made flesh.
More than that, at the end of every mass, we are sent out to be the Body of Christ. We are meant to be people who proclaim Jesus to others so that everyone can come to know the Father, who is Love. In this year of being the Body of Christ, let us be constantly reminded of the gift of Christmas even when the decorations of the season are put away. Let us be the Body of Christ for the world so that it can come to know and love God more and more.
- Jana M. Bennett