Jonathots Daily Blog
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Do you think Christmas is too commercial?
Every year when I watch the original movie, “Miracle on 34th Street,” there is a small speech delivered by one of the young men in the cast. Even though the movie was done in the late 1940’s, he laments, in his soliloquy that Christmas is too commercial.
So it is nothing new.
I would never question the sincerity of those who are concerned about keeping the purity and message of Christmas. But I will say that such complaining is contrary to the story itself.
The first Christmas was a tiny, nearly unnoticed intrusion on a world of commercialism. Augustus Caesar was taxing the empire, innkeepers were making so much money that they had no room for two vagabonds coming in the middle of the night, and the shepherds were busy watching their flocks.
Things were bought, things were sold.
In the midst of that, an absolutely miraculous event occurred–which rattles the world to this day.
The message of Christmas did not need much space to gain place.
If department stores want to make a dollar and other folks wish to focus on decorations and North Pole shenanigans, Baby Jesus still seems to always win out–just like he did that First Noel.
Why?
- Because “peace on Earth, good will toward men” is necessary to keep the stores open.
- “Love your neighbor as yourself” creates the environment for capitalism to flourish.
- And Saint Nicholas probably wouldn’t give a crap about children if he hadn’t learned it from Jesus, who made young ones a strong part of his mission.
So when you hear people sneer about the “commercialism of Christmas,” please understand that the first time angels were heard singing on high, the world was either asleep, gambling or finding ways to increase the profit margin.
Caesar is dead, the innkeeper has passed along … but Baby Jesus is still rocking the world.
The producers of jonathots would humbly request a yearly subscription donation of $10 for this inspirational opportunity
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