This is a time of year that people have traditionally come together. In the northern hemisphere it is the time of darkness , cold, and hunger. In ancient times the winter solstice was celebrated as the turning point, the sun would start to return the days getting longer and it was the time of rebirth for the earth and it’s people. Christianity very early in it’s existence chose this time to celebrate the birth of Jesus for the same symbolism.
In order to survive the winter our ancestors came together so their communities would live on. Food, heat, and shelter were shared so that most of the community would survive. When Christianity took hold in Europe this would become the basis their communities to come together and share what they had with others. As a Jesuit brother told me “God saw the people were having problems with following 10 simple rules so he sent Jesus with two rules – Love thy God and Love thy Neighbor” This season no matter who you pray to, is the time follow that second rule.
We divided into factions now, we have fostered hate and fear of our neighbor, we walk past the cold, the hungry, the sick, the homeless while we are encouraged to spend our money on trinkets that will be forgotten in a month to enrich those who could care less for needy in our communities, The saddest of this is for each of us all it would cost us is a bit of our excesses. I urge each of you to volunteer to help prepare and serve Christmas Dinner at the halfway houses, the homeless shelters, When you see someone is cold give them that blanket that no longer matches your color scheme, a coat, gloves, scarves you haven’t worn for years or an old pair of shoes. These are simple acts of kindness. There our many more ways you can show these people that they are not forgotten.
So make this a season to change, our leadership may not care about the least of and only for themselves, but each of us can show we care about the least of us. The message of this season is if we can show a person that one of us cared enough to give them hope, maybe they regain the courage to change the course of their life. This is what it means to Love thy Neighbor
I wish every one you a Happy Christmas and a bright New Year and may you free from sorrow and pain.