Tuesday, December 13, 2005
Holidays or Holy Days
Well, I've seen it now on a church sign, on numerous blogs, and a newspaper editorial. Holiday or Holy Day. An epidemic, uprising if you will, a protest against the commercialism of the season.
Yet, the shopping frenzy continues. People lining up year after year to purchase ever bigger gifts. It's become almost a game of one upmanship. No longer content to merely keep up with the proverbial Jones' on a yearly basis, now people have to have a bigger plasma TV, bigger Ipod, faster computer, small cars.
Where does it all lead? To more heart attacks, higher stress levels, higher suicide rates. And for what? To make the multi-national companies profits bigger?
It really is time to take back this Holiday and every other Feast day. These were originally celebrations of the pagans for major seasonal changes, that were adopted by the Church to fit into their own celebrations.
The season belongs to two parts now. As a Holy day of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and also as a day for young children to celebrate the joy of giving. NOT receiving, but giving.
My own children have learned this from early on, that it is more important to give than to receive. We have made it part of the celebration to ensure that those in need are looked after as much as we are able to give. For He gave his Son to us and so too we can give of ourselves to those in need.
Happy Holy Day and a Merry Christmas to all.
Yet, the shopping frenzy continues. People lining up year after year to purchase ever bigger gifts. It's become almost a game of one upmanship. No longer content to merely keep up with the proverbial Jones' on a yearly basis, now people have to have a bigger plasma TV, bigger Ipod, faster computer, small cars.
Where does it all lead? To more heart attacks, higher stress levels, higher suicide rates. And for what? To make the multi-national companies profits bigger?
It really is time to take back this Holiday and every other Feast day. These were originally celebrations of the pagans for major seasonal changes, that were adopted by the Church to fit into their own celebrations.
The season belongs to two parts now. As a Holy day of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ and also as a day for young children to celebrate the joy of giving. NOT receiving, but giving.
My own children have learned this from early on, that it is more important to give than to receive. We have made it part of the celebration to ensure that those in need are looked after as much as we are able to give. For He gave his Son to us and so too we can give of ourselves to those in need.
Happy Holy Day and a Merry Christmas to all.
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Beautiful words, Joe. You're right, it is better to give than to receive and we all need to remember the spiritual side.
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