The Christmas Nemesis

Although it did not start out as a day for gift giving such is exactly what Christmas has become. Commercialism and material possessiveness are dominating the spirit of Christmas. Commerce is aggressive is its pursuit to pry money from the hands of Christmas shoppers. The twelve days of Christmas are quickly extending to becoming the twelve months of Christmas. This is unacceptable.

Consider the following action (verbs) words often associated with the act of doing business: buying, selling, shopping, pricing, paying, bargaining, exchanging, advertising, charging, and spending, spending, spending. Can you apply any of these to what you see and hear on street corners and in stores around Christmas time? Sure you can.

And commerce is trying to lengthen the Christmas season by airing ads and decorating there stores long before the month of December arrives. Consider those people who were in charge of securing a date for the Downtown St. John's Santa Claus Parade. It occurred this year in November. Let's not even talk about places that have Christmas in July or the so called Christmas stores that are open all year long.

Commerce in this country can be described as the nemesis to Christmas. It is destroying what Christmas was and was meant to be. Christmas began as a celebration of life free of sin (like greed). It was meant to be celebrated each year in remembrance. Further, in fellowship, we are to thank God for the Christ child and in doing so find solace and peace.

I believe we are to interpret the virgin birth as a miracle exemplifying God's presence in our world. Much more personal then that, however, is my belief that our children are just as precious as the god child and we are entrusted with there care. We are the Mary and Joseph of our own children and we have the godlike responsibility to protect and love them.