Christmas 2008
Merry Christmas!
Long before there was any question about the political correctness of wishing others a “Merry Christmas,” the pastor of the parish of my youth (Monsignor John Cusack, St. Richard Parish in Danvers, MA) took the occasion every year of telling us why he preferred to wish everyone a “Happy Christmas.” He’d point out that we never wish anyone a “Merry Easter” and would question whether this adjective for Christmas, dating back to the 17th century, was the best one for us to use today. The first printed Christmas card (1843) wished recipients a “Merry Christmas” but at the end of A Visit From St. Nicholas (‘Twas the night before…), Clement Moore wishes his readers a “Happy Christmas.” The history, then, is mixed. “Merry” seems rather light and even “Happy” might fail to bear the weight of this day’s wishes. What kind of Christmas do we hope and pray our family and friends will have?
My prayer is that you will have a Joyful Christmas: a Christmas rooted in the inner serenity deep faith provides, strong enough to survive the disappointments and sorrows life delivers to our doorstep and exuberant enough to celebrate life’s happiest times. May the birthday of Christ touch you with deep joy...
I pray, too, that you will have a Peaceful Christmas: the peace the world so clearly is unable to give itself; the peace that broken hearts long for; the peace that is ours to share with one another in forgiveness, kindness and charity. May the birthday of Christ sow seeds of peace in your heart...
Finally, I pray that you have a Hopeful Christmas. So much in the world around us encroaches on our capacity to hope: a spirit abroad that seems intent on draining the beauty and poetry from our lives while our ever burgeoning knowledge robs us of awe and reverence before the mystery of life, of love and of God. May the birthday of Christ renew hope in your heart...
I wish you a Joyful, Peaceful, Hopeful Christmas and should your Christmas be Merry and Happy, too – all the better! Please pray the same for me.
Peace,
ConcordPastor
all wonderful wishes and I wish the same for you, Concord Pastor. You are the best .
ReplyDeleteThank you, for all of the joy and peace and hope you bring- to everyone.
ReplyDeleteI will always pray for these things- and for so much more- for you, ConcordPastor.
How beautiful! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteA Blessed Merry & Happy Christmas to you! Thank you for your blog - an unfailing source of joy, peace and hope for us. Yes, even when you make us squirm a bit (and probably yourself as well, taking your own message to heart!). Oftentimes the words that are hard to hear are the ones that get us back on track.
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In order to have a " joyful" Christmas, you must have people around you that love you. Even it it's only one person. Love can bring joy, if you allow yourself to "see" the love. Some of us are so trapped in their fear of not being loved, they are unable to see the love that others offer us. Hopefully, your readers will see, that there is someone out there who loves us unconditionally. Someone who looks forward to meeting with us and talking wih us, someone who looks forward to hearing from us, and someone who will never ignore us when we are sad or hurting. That person, is Jesus. He is there, and He is real.
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