Finding Christ in Christmas

Web Posted: Dec. 5, 2004

Last week, National Public Radio featured a speaker who said the efforts to “put Christ into Christmas” have failed. Two of his reasons were: the ever earlier beginning of the shopping season with its rampant commercialism, along with the efforts to take the word “Christmas” away from the season and use the more politically correct word: “Holiday.”
His solution was to capitulate to the culture, drop the celebration of Christmas, and name what we have at this time of the year “Winter Solstice.”

The speaker’s solution is contrary to the heritage of St. Ignatius that we, at Marquette University, carry as a Jesuit school. We are invited to “find God in all things.” It is not a question of putting Christ into Christmas or taking him out. Rather, it is a question of finding Christ in our preparations and celebrations.

Let me give you an example.

As we get closer and closer to Christmas, most people feel they are not spiritually prepared and that they physically have not done everything they planned to do: buying all the right presents, writing enough on cards to friends, or baking the variety of cookies everybody expects. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day often leave a lot to be desired. One is so distracted in Church because of all that still needs to be done. A brother and a sister ignore each other at the dinner table. Uncle Joe has too much to drink and tells some off colored stories.

How can one find Christ in the midst of such fragmentation?

Incompleteness is part of the Christmas spirit. It makes us realize we need a Savior. We cannot do it all perfectly. We lose perspective and take ourselves too seriously. When we feel this, we are ready to hear in our hearts: “”Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2.10-11)

Resources

• Listen to the NPR segment entitled "Can the Christ Be Kept in Christmas?"