Newspaper Columns by Bishop Paul V. Marshall
Is someone out there having a good time?
Bishop Paul V. Marshall
The Morning Call, Dec. 6, 2003Nobody thinks that Jesus of Nazareth was born on December 25. Why, then, is his birth celebrated on that day? The answers are simple - and revealing.
Winter is dark and also depressing. We even have a psychological condition called Seasonal Affective Disorder, appropriately abbreviated as SAD.
Beyond depression, in days before electric light and central heating, winter also brought limitations on activity and threats to health.
To rebel against such things through festivity and feasting is a natural part of being human.
In the northern hemisphere it was common to have celebrations in bleak mid-winter, about the time that the worst darkness was past and the days began to grow ever-so-slightly longer.
We know of yule logs in northern Europe and The Birthday of the Invincible Sun in Roman lands - just two examples.
The breaking out of light in a time of darkness, a time when festivity contributed to survival, seemed an excellent time for Christians to focus on the birth of their light-bringer, Jesus.
So, quite slowly at first, what we know as Christmas caught on among Christians.
The general festivity was there before the holy day. It is human nature and it makes good sense to engage in festivity in the midst of the cold and the dark. For this reason, it is not helpful for Christians to denounce any festivities in December or January because they aren't Christ-centered.
There is, in fact, something hard-hearted about depriving people of a few moment's festivity in our stress-filled environment.
H. L. Mencken once defined puritans as those who are obsessed with the fear that someone, somewhere, might be having a good time.
Whether or not that is true, Christians do not help their witness by publicly wishing away the cakes and ale of others.
It is well worth remembering that Jesus' first miracle was at the wedding in Cana, where his contribution of water-into-wine is what kept the party going.
The expression, ''God rest ye merry,'' from the familiar carol, was a wish for the blessing of festivity.
If the ultimate goal of Christmas is to help us understand the Incarnation, God's being with us in Christ, it should follow that Christians need to be with people, sincerely and evidently for them, if we expect them to credit readily the idea that God is with and for them.
On the institutional level, churches are with and for people through social and health-care agencies and in response to disasters and other special needs.
What does being with and for people look like on the personal level? Only you know the answer to that. Each of us has dozens of choices to make daily.
When the greatest darkness comes and brings the cold with it, the hymn, ''I Want to Walk as a Child of the Light - I Want to Follow Jesus,'' comes to mind. With it comes the question: What can each of us do so Christ's light shines?
Shine it does, and people do notice when we make the choice to follow. Last month Penn State gave its Beaver Award for Community Service to Dr. Randall Fegley, professor of history and political science at Penn State's Berks Campus, and also a member of the Diocese of Bethlehem's World Mission Committee and leader in our diocesan initiative with the people of the Diocese of Kajo Keji in the Episcopal Church of the Sudan.
Randall's work for the Sudanese, a work that eventually involved many in this diocese, has been a witness to Christian commitment to bring light and joy to suffering people.
In wishing each of you joy at Christmas and peace and productivity in 2004, I am wishing that in your merry-making and in your quiet acts of service to others, the light of Christ will truly break forth and shine.
Return to the index of Bishop Paul's columns for the secular press
Home Site Map Please direct any questions or comments to the webmaster@diobeth.org
