A Timely Christmas

Christmas hope is particularly timely in 2010. The Light of Christ is a beacon for the future as well as shining its Light on the truth of who we are and what we have become.

I have often been intrigued by the question: Why was Jesus Christ necessary? My answer has always been: Because God wants to remind us what it means to be a human being. Or, because we forgot what it means to be created in the Image of God. So, God said: OK, I'll remind you what it means. I will become a total human being while also being God incarnate.

What is this Image of God in which we were ALL created? Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, generosity, faithfulness, self control. Justice is implied.

Now, juxtapose what we have become, or been all along. Take the recently passed bipartisan tax bill. The middle and lower classes got some hamburgers while the upper 2% got filets with lobster. I am reminded of the parable of the man who wanted to build more barns for his surplus grain and Jesus responded: "Fool, this night your soul is required". Also, Jesus spoke these prophetic words: "Where your treasure is, there is your heart". What have we become? "More" has become God. "I worked for it. I invested it. What is mine is mine." Forget about the common good. What have we become? The Light of Christ shines light upon the truth. Christmas is timely.

Something is wrong when trying to give support for the truly needy, one feels compelled to make a "Faustian bargain", a deal with the devil, in the spirit of bi-partisanship. We can argue the politics of the deal, that serious conversation should have been engaged months ago to work out a more equatable deal. I would agree. This is a case of poor leadership. Yet, the result was a small win for most, coupled with a big win for the few. The nation on the whole is the loser. What have we become? The Light of Christ shines light upon the truth. Christmas is timely.

The "Dream Act" was defeated. Youth who were brought into the country through no fault of their own by parents willing to work for a new future for their family, willing to make a contribution to America's future, were denied a path to citizenship. Somehow it is OK for a young person to fight and perhaps die or lose a limb for the USA, but that sacrifice is not enough for a nation to express its gratitude by opening the door to citizenship. These youth have become victims. The arrogant, powerful fat cats say thanks but no thanks, and then go home to a Christmas party feeling justified that they have once again protected America. What have we become? The Light of Christ shines light upon the truth. Christmas is timely.

Yet, thankfully, the Light of Christ also shines as a beacon for the future! The apparent passage of DADT is an act of justice. Commentators referred to the axiom: "Justice delayed is justice denied". True. Now, justice is no longer delayed or denied. A wrong is righted. We celebrate and give thanks to God and to our leaders who "saw the Light". Christmas is timely.

Now let us hope for this Light of Christ to shine in our hearts through our actions, so the START Treaty will be renewed, that Social Security and Medicare not be cut but enhanced, that our national debt be addressed with fairness and compassion, that the Dream Act be reintroduced, that immigration be addressed with justice, that our military adventurism be stopped, that energy and environmental issues be seriously engaged, that education be transformed and empowered, that infrastructure be renewed. The Light of Christ this Christmas shines to remind us who God created us to be: creators, reconcilers, peacemakers, purveyors of justice, kinder and gentler. The vision is alive! For us! For God's world! Christmas is timely.

For God so loved the world.... Merry Christmas!

Peace!

Ron