Me: Why do you celebrate Christmas?
You (?): Because it is a good time for festivity, especially in the Northern half of the world where winter and darkness are oppressing us. A bright holiday helps.
I agree. If I push back my chair about a foot and a half I can see the very cheerful Saint Louis University Christmas tree lights, outlining a tree, and also a Crèche scene across from College Church. Very pleasant. Same for decorated houses.
No, no, no, not at all. Christmas is a custom throughout the country. Mom or the relatives or the children—they wouldn’t they like to hear that I or we or whoever have decided to just be selfish on this best of all holidays. No. It is family time.
Good for you. In fact, great. Holiday joy thrives in the family, especially when everyone does their best at politeness.
I guess customs differ in various cities and homes, and also maybe a lot of folks don’t actually have a family that can come together. Do you ever think about that?
When there is time, of course I do. And now and then we take leftovers to the parish to give to street people. They have to eat too, you know.
Yes they do. Some say that those folks are just too crippled or lazy or, if you will pardon the expression, too stupid to go out and get their own food.
Could be. Maybe we will talk about that at Christmas dinner.
Is that what your family does at Christmas dinner, sit around and talk?
You’re hinting, aren’t you? You are asking whether we go to Mass. The answer is that some of us do and some of us don’t. Not all of us like Masses anymore, especially the big long ones.
I see. But the people that do go, and maybe that includes you, what is your reason for attending?
Lots of reasons. It is such a beautiful ceremony. All that singing. And good will from people that I have hardly met. My parents have always gone to it, and I don’t want to let our kids down, though theirs is a different world than what my parents grew up in. I’m not sure. I do love it, though.
You know what you haven’t mentioned?
God?
That’s right. And God’s tiny child.
Yeah. Well, I don’t really understand how the infinite God could become a stinky, teeny, cute li’l baby.
Who does? But are you willing to read through the Gospel for Christmas day? Here are the first few lines.
In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
I don’t get it.
You already get it inside you somewhere. Do you understand love?
Oh, I don’t think I do, not at all. I wish I did.
We all wish we understood it. What is “The Word” that is made flesh? All we “know” is that God and love go together. Just read the whole Gospel passage slowly and see if it doesn’t sink in. I recommend the shorter version.
I will. I love to be loved.
That is the whole point!
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us …
From his fullness we have all received, grace after grace.
You are invited to email a note to the
author of this reflection:
Fr. John Foley, SJ
