Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7 & Hebrews 1:1-12: Christmas: It's About CHRIST

Lectionary Cycle Year B: Christmas Eve / Day
Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7 (Read it on Bible Gateway) & Hebrews 1:1-12 (Read it on Bible Gateway)
Christmas: It's About CHRIST
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The debate rages on... Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays!

I should preface this reflection with the fact I am a firm believer in the separation of Church and State. I do not in any way believe that the State should be controlled by the Church or vice versa. The two entities should exist as independent entities. That IS what that phrase means, it IS what it was put in place to protect against, a State controlled by the Church, or a State that attempted to exert control over the Church.

It was never meant to imply that one should not acknowledge the existence of the other. It was never meant to imply that people who believe in the tenets of one cannot bring that influence and belief to the other. It was never meant to imply that, as a matter of fact, one particular State was created much on the basis of the tenets of one particular faith. Yet, that seems to be what some want to make it now. It seems that a growing number of people want to forget that holidays is really a shortening of the term Holy Days, or days set aside for sacred celebration.

Paul would have lost it. Each of these passages from two of Paul's letters focus on the significance and pre-eminence of Christ. His message are to people of the Christian faith and likewise, they are not meant to imply in any way that that faith perspective should be forced on others. Yet Paul would have cried out against any system or society that wanted to remove the right of any Christian to celebrate, recognize, and proclaim their faith in a proud claiming of their HOLY DAY, the one called CHRISTMAS, or the Mass of Christ, or Christ Mass.

There are people of other faiths and they should feel free to practice and celebrate their holy days as well. That is their right. There are people who claim to have no faith who wish to practice commercialized shadows of what people of faith lay claim to. That is their right. If they wish to tell me to have a "Happy Holidays" and for them that means a nice break from work, a time to party and get and give gifts, then so be it.

But I celebrate CHRISTmas. Sorry, it's belonged to people of faith since the beginning of the organized Church, which significantly predates the Constitution. By the way, that Constitution protects my right as an individual to practice that faith, to acknowledge it, proclaim it and celebrate it.

To all those who want to deprive me of that right, in any place I work, any place I frequent, any place I live... IT IS NOT GOING TO HAPPEN! I will not allow you to step on my civil rights any more than I intend to step on yours. If you are so shaken in your belief because someone wishes you a Merry Christmas, then maybe you should re-evaluate your beliefs. If you are so disturbed by it then perhaps you should seek some secular counseling to deal with your obvious issues of repressed anger and frustration.

Wouldn't it be interesting if the shoe was on the other foot? What if Christians and the Church, in all its incarnations, did not want anyone who did not believe to celebrate Christmas? If stores did not recognize the true meaning, that they could not participate in selling Christmas items such as CHRISTMAS trees, or CHRISTMAS decorations! If communities did not proclaim the faith, they could not put up such either. If businesses did not reflect such beliefs they could not offer days off for it.


Trust me, all those who see Christmas as an opportunity to make money, party, kick back and get stuff would not go for it and would argue their rights to practice their form of holiday. And you know what, we Christians would never really imagine trying to enforce such an absurd practice. Imagine that.



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