Remembering the Meaning of Christmas

Published December 16, 2006 IN THEORY Remembering the Meaning of Christmas Q: With the holidays upon us, do you find yourselves getting caught up in the frenzy over shopping and gifts and all the related hustle and bustle? How do you deal with it, and do you worry that the true messages of the season get lost? A: A quick look around the world will point to the lost message of Christmas. It's difficult to imagine war in Iraq, genocide in Darfur or just plain intolerance toward our neighbors if the message was taken seriously. In our own backyard, would we be consumed with petty politics, rather than showing concern for the health and education of our children, if the message of Christmas was more than the decorations at the Galleria? Yet, the fundamental message of Christmas is that of hope. It's a trust and faith in tomorrow, beyond our understanding. That is the promise of the Christ child: that God continues to nurture and save us, despite ourselves. At our parish, St. Peter, we challenge our congregation to celebrate the birth of Christ by giving him the gifts he requests. We find his shopping list in Luke 14:12-14: "Give to those," Jesus says, "the poor and suffering - those who have no means of paying you back." It is a simple way to emphasize the message of Christmas. Furthermore, as Armenians we celebrate the Nativity on Jan. 6. Because we have a double Christmas, we have made it a policy at our church to acknowledge and live the Christmas message all year round. The celebration of "Love being born" is not confined to a date, but it is a way of life. We established the "In His Shoes Mission," which provides a constant challenge for members to rise from their humanity and live the Christmas message all year long. By walking in the shoes of others, we acknowledge and realize that it is up to us to work for a better tomorrow. Therein, we tie ourselves to the message of hope that is Christmas. FATHER VAZKEN MOVSESIAN Armenian Church In His Shoes Mission