Published December 15, 2007 - Glendale News Press - Los Angeles Time
IN THEORY
'Tis the Season to Discuss Semantics
| Q: |
This year and in years past, some local residents, along with radio talk show hosts such as Bill O’Reilly of Fox News, have expressed concern that “secular progressives” are trying to eliminate the name Christmas from holiday events. The city of Glendale’s annual “Holiday Tree Lighting” has come under fire because it doesn’t note, some say, that it is a “Christmas” tree that is being lighted, not a holiday tree. What do you think? Is Christmas under siege? Or, is calling it a holiday tree more inclusive?
| A: |
Let’s suppose Jesus came back today and at his first press conference one of the reporters grilled him with a simple evaluation of history.
“Jesus, looking back at the 2,000 years since your last visit, would you have preferred that people remembered your name or your message?”
I’d venture to say that he would opt for his formula of love and peace over a commemoration of his name. In fact, throughout the gospel accounts, Jesus adamantly chastises those who pay lip service to their faith and forget to practice it. He scolds the Pharisees and likens them to “whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean” (Matthew 23:27, New International Version).
This description fits some of our Christmas practices of decorating the outside of our homes, streets and stores and forgetting to fill the inside with compassion and care. Fighting for the right to publicly display a manger scene while at the same time closing down the shelters for our homeless is yet another version of the whitewashed tomb.
Jesus’ power was much more than a simple name. He was Love Incarnate, and for me, that event is truly a holy (holi)day. It’s Christmas for me, but unless I can keep that love alive and working in my life, I can give it any name I want and it won’t mean a thing.
In the Armenian Orthodox Church, the original date of Jan. 6 is remembered as Christmas. For me, it drives the point home even harder.
Just like the name, the date too is secondary to the message. In other words, Christ is born on Dec. 25, Jan. 6, May 11 or Aug. 18, that is, any time Love is born.
Armenian Church Youth Ministries
In His Shoes Mission
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