Who else agrees that this title is scary? Who ever thought that Christ would be removed from his very own birthday? I’m trying to picture my birthday party without me; people coming together and giving each other gifts but not doing anything for me or because of me. Sounds ridiculous! Who would do that?
Well? Our culture for one. The arguments that “Merry Christmas” offends people offends me. Our nation is supposed to be the melting pot where everyone of every race and religion can find a place. But if Christ is not a part of that, we are offending the men who wrote the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. We are casting careless insults in the faces of those martyred for the freedoms we take for granted.
So what am I doing about it, you ask? I would love to stand atop the White House and declare my Christian views. But who would listen to me? I’m just…me. But I can make a difference in the lives of my children. And maybe in writing this entry…you.
We are attending daily mass. The season of Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus – and for us in the time of A.D., the Second Coming of Jesus. In attending daily mass, in the daily forgiveness of sins and consumption of the Eucharist, I hope to ready myself both inside and out for his return and as a means to commemorate his birth.
My husband and I are scaling back the gifts this year too. The girls know they will still receive gifts, but there will not be anything extravagant. The greatest thing we will give our daughters is us. Time with us, conversations, cuddles, puzzles, game time, meal time – all family.
We are setting an extra plate at the table too; just for Jesus. It is his birthday after all! After we sing “Happy Birthday Dear Jesus!” and have cake and ice cream, we will continue the celebration in the reading of Luke’s Infancy Gospel.
We have our Advent Calendar and the Advent Wreath. We have our Christmas tree – covered with lights (because Jesus is the light of the world) and decorations (because through Jesus we are decorated with love and beauty).
If you have more ideas of ways to welcome Jesus to his own birthday party, please share them. It’s time to reclaim our Christian holiday from the retailers. It’s time to make a stand – if only in our own homes – that declares our love for the Lord and our thanks to him for his blood sacrifice.
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