Merry Christmas!
There, I said it. And I will say it again.
Merry Christmas!
Even though we just celebrated a Happy New Year!
These days when the world seems to always be in a hurry to go somewhere, get something, be someone … it’s important to remain steadfast in observing the true Christmas season.
Perhaps it is just a little thing – keeping Christmas alive for 12 days or so – but it truly is one more “little thing” we should not abandon, even though it seems everyone else has.
Christmas did not “end” on December 25, despite what many believe. It had barely just begun.
The season is not “over” simply because our merchants conduct popular “after Christmas” sales. On the contrary, Christmas “began” on December 25 (actually on the Eve of the 24th) and will continue until the Feast of the Epiphany (for most) or the Baptism of the Lord, the final day of the Christmas liturgical season.
So, we keep our trees decorated and lit. We continue to send traditional Christmas cards. We continue to gather with family and exchange gifts.
In other words … we “walk the walk” of a true Christian who knows the Season is not determined by a society that is eager to move on to the next holiday.
Nor is it determined by many of our friends and neighbors eager to box their decorations and toss their trees into the recycling pile. And neither is it determined by the media, Facebook or Twitter.
During this time of the year, we truly are called to “walk the walk” of liturgy. We are a liturgical people, after all.
Interesting … that phrase “walk the walk.”
If you do some online searching, you will find most people use this expression as a way to say that in order to be authentic, one must actually do what one preaches. The extended version of this phrase goes something like this: “If you talk the talk, you need to walk the walk.”
This seems to play right into today’s readings from John. In the first reading, John is pretty clear and straightforward when he teaches that true Christians who have truly embraced Christ and his teachings are simply not among those who sin.
Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness, for sin is lawlessness. You know that he was revealed to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
No one who remains in him sins; no one who sins has seen him or known him.
Strong words that seek to expose the hypocrisy of those who consistently lead a sinful life, yet still profess the faith.
When we lead lives as true Christians – sure, we may slip up and need confession, which is different than adopting a truly sinful path in all that we do – then we are living as children of the light. In a dark world that does not always recognize the true light of our faith, it is our actions, words and demeanor that serve to evangelize.
Again, the way we celebrate the Christmas season might seem insignificant when compared to many other things. But I would argue that in order to become the best person Christ wants us to be, we must embrace Christianity step by step, layer by layer.
It seems romantic to think that you can “dive into” the waters of faith and be instantly saved … but the reality of being human is that we need to gradually evolve into a person who truly knows – and lives by the light of Christ on a daily basis.
The act of evangelizing others – through our actions, primarily – is one of those important steps to take.
John was evangelizing as he wrote. At our baptism into the Church, that same duty of became ours, to evangelize and to spread the joy of the Gospel – the “Good News” – that Christ has come as our Savior.
This notion of evangelizing in the face of doubt and disbelief reminds me of a prayer that many know as a prayer of Mother Teresa. It stands as words of encouragement whenever difficult circumstances cause you to hesitate or have doubts about living up to your Christian calling.
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
Pray that we continue to “walk the walk” … anyway.
And we say again … MERRY CHRISTMAS!
