Christmas

By Fr Michael Plekon

Once again, we enter the holiday season. For us it is the celebration of God’s becoming one of us, entering time, space, matter, our world. We can never say, after the birth of Jesus, that God’s up there in his heaven, far from us down here on earth. All powerful. But not much understanding what life, joy, sadness, growing older, getting sick, dying are about. 

Maybe our culture has made us think only in “holy, jolly” terms about Christmas. There’s been anger that we don’t use the word “Christmas” enough. But, really, a lot of what’s online and in the stores is not about Christmas but more about a winter holiday of decorations, parties, festive dinners and the like. Or maybe very little celebration.

This isn’t some thought from Fr. Michael Scrooge. I will never tire of Christmas, in all the little details. The blizzard that imprisoned us, kept family from visiting years ago back in NY. Going out to cut a tree. All our kids and partners together trimming the tree, foodies joining forces for a culinary feast on Christmas day. And much further back our kids, when little, and their glee at the tree and gifts and more. Time does something to one’s memories and thoughts about Christmas. Many of us think of the grandparents, parents, even partners and siblings no longer with us to celebrate or even call/facetime/zoom with on the day.

And yet, and yet…aren’t they always with us, no matter how Christmas looks for us this year? Aren’t they still there as we look at the nativity creche, as we sing carols and hear the Christmas story in church and receive Christ in communion there? They indeed are. Jesus said his kingdom was not after we die, far above us somewhere. We all know the many moments of heaven we have experienced here on earth. Looking at your newborn for the first time. Looking over the years into the face of the partner you love. Loving and being loved. Putting Christmas into practice in how we live.

Once I read that our lives would be changed if we could keep just a tiny bit of Christmas all through the year. Isn’t that what the happy ending of Dickens “A Christmas Carol” is about? If you have not ever been to Lessons and Carols on Christmas Eve at St. Barnabas, do come if you are able, at 5pm this year, Wednesday, December 24. Christmas Day there’s also a Eucharist at 9:30am.You will hear the story of Christmas.

Beginning with the very creation of the world, because all history was a leadup to that night, in the stable, with the baby born, wrapped up and put to bed in the feed trough, with the farm animals around, and later shepherds and eventual royal wisemen.

Joy to the world, the lord has come, let earth receive her king, let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing.

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The Rev. Michael Plekon, PhD
Professor Emeritus: Sociology, Religion & Culture The City University of New York - Baruch College