A Pandemic Christmas

In the classic Christmas story “The Gift of the Magi”, we are told of a sweet but impoverished young couple, very much in love, each wanting to give the other something extravagant, but not being able to afford anything. They owned only two treasures: Jim’s heirloom pocket watch and Della’s long and gorgeous hair. Of course, Jim pawns his watch in order to buy the very finest ornamental combs for Della’s precious hair, while Della has her tresses shorn and sold, in order to buy a platinum watch chain for Jim’s precious watch.

In this cold and empty Christmas season, by choice or by mandate, the Yule log will not burn high. There will be quiet instead of the usual joyous tumult of Christmas morning, because we have agreed that the greatest gift we can give our loved ones is not to give them COVID. For all of us, it will be a lonesome time.

But perhaps this very stillness will give us opportunity to reflect on the true meaning of the celebration, the birth of the Christ Child.

No matter our beliefs, or lack thereof, the message of Christmas is that the deity of the universe loved his lowly creatures so much that he sent his own precious son amongst humanity, knowing that he would be treated shamefully and wickedly, ultimately giving his life to pay the penalty that justice demands for all the cruelty and dishonesty and chicanery and treachery that our race so easily displays. The innocent god-man suffering ignomy and death, giving us his life that we all might fully live.

Christmas is the day where we give thanks for the gift.

Now, you may accept that as historic fact, or you may believe it to be no more than a noble parable, and I’m not here to argue with you, because either way, the underlying concept can be life-changing.

At the very least, the Christmas story tells us that life is not an empty joke, that you and I have great worth and great hope. The Christmas story is one of sacrificial giving, redemption, and new life. “The Gift of the Magi” at a transcendental level.

And in that spirit, from our home to yours, let me wish you a very blessed Christmas.