Pope Benedict XVI: Christmas Will be Tough this Year

[Catholic_Press]

Pope Benedict XVI says he knows Christmas this year will be difficult, in an acknowledgement of the economic crisis gripping much of the West. But he is urging the faithful to remember there’s more to the holiday than gift-buying.

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[Nelka]

He is right!

 

[donsnow]

Good afternoon, all,

His words are true on this side of the Atlantic, too.

God loves all of you, lurkers, too,
Don

 

[centurionguard]

I like what Pope Benedict XVI said;

The pope told parishioners he knows that Christmas will be “very difficult,” but that he wanted to wish all a happy holiday. Benedict said that preparing for Christmas “doesn’t only mean buying” gifts. Later, greeting pilgrims in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican, he said real joy is linked to something deeper.

And its that profound deeper part all of us Catholics have to fight to keep.

Some might not see it as a fight. I do. Its bad enough trying to surpass the unrelenting bombardment of the depressing secular fanfare of Christmas with this superfluous excess of gift-giving and people spending the next six to eight months paying for the ridiculous debt they get themselves into. I think this aspect really ruins Christmas for many.

Jesus being the Reason for the Season means seriously contemplating the Reason.

Its realizing that the wood in His Crib would one day become the wood on His Cross.

Gospel According to Saint John Chapter 1: 1-15

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. [2] The same was in the beginning with God. [3] All things were made by him: and without him was made nothing that was made. [4] In him was life, and the life was the light of men. [5] And the light shineth in darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

[6] There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. [7] This man came for a witness, to give testimony of the light, that all men might believe through him. [8] He was not the light, but was to give testimony of the light. [9] That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world. [10] He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.

[11] He came unto his own, and his own received him not. [12] But as many as received him, he gave them power to be made the sons of God, to them that believe in his name. [13] Who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. [14] And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we saw his glory, the glory as it were of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. [15] John beareth witness of him, and crieth out, saying: This was he of whom I spoke: He that shall come after me, is preferred before me: because he was before me.

 

[Marie5890]

Oh I so understand this.

I hope we all take the Holy Father’s words to heart.

It’s not about the gifts…It’s about Christ.