“The road to the sacred leads through the secular.” (Abraham Heschel) Do you think that it’s possible…that all the commercialism of the season can lead to an appreciation of the sacred? I’m wondering. I hear many comments that the real meaning of Christmas has been lost. I’m not so sure. Do you know of examples? ;-) Jack
FROM G.G. IN INDIANA: I never thought about it that way but yes, I think it can lead to the sacred. I don't think that the real meaning of Christmas can ever be lost.....it's too powerful and the spirit "gets up in you" even when you think that it won't.
L.H. IN MARCO DOESN'T AGREE: Heschel would make a good con man. He's is wrong.
MORE FROM L.H.: This is a Christian country (over 80%) and it is what this country was founded on. You can't rewrite history! I thought that especially with your background, you would want to spread the Word.By the way, yesterday I picked up a copy of his book.
FROM MOLINER, L.P.: Hi. I think we're finding the meaning again. Gratefully, the stores dumped all the "political correctness" they tried last year, and we see trees, wreaths and Christmas again-- maybe that's what it took to make us realize how much Christmas really means to us as a society. People seem to be less in a party mood, and more in a reflective mood this year-- an improvement, in my opinion. Our political candidates certainly have prompted a lot of talk about religion, and it seems there are more people coming forward who are proud of their beliefs and not afraid to talk about them. I think as a country we're becoming more tolerant of each other and realizing that our differences are not that different after all. Merry Christmas!
FROM S.H. IN MICHIGAN: I know an example of two people's experiences in Israel. I know a pastor who visited Israel many years ago and saw the place where Jesus was supposed to have lain in a manger. The place looks very commercial now, a spot surrounded by all sorts of souvenir stuff, plastic Jesuses, etc., etc., etc. At first he said he was very angry, very putoff, very disappointed but, as he came to terms with the current reality of it all, he came to an appreciation that THAT PLACE LOOKED EXACTLY LIKE THE PLACE WHERE JESUS WAS NEEDED TO BE BORN. A friend has just come back from a trip to Israel and she had a similar experience. The place seems Hollywoodish with a star at the place where the manger was supposed to have been. I do think the commercialism of the season leads me to an appreciation of the sacred because the real sacred is the only thing that sets right it all. Let the real sacred be in the midst of it. Do not try to isolate the real sacred away from the commercialism because the battle needs to be fought and we, in the end, need to be able somehow to see our idolatry, what false prophets we are not to follow. Over the weekend we just sent out $73 postage on boxes of food for all of our relatives. Candies my daughter bought in Texas, fudge I made and also baklava because that is a different food you can buy in this area. Plus our homemade Christmas cards with our hopes for peace and love and that we all remember and celebrate the birth of Jesus. It might seem silly for quite a few of our relatives to see us spend money like that but, at this time, this is kind of our way of dealing with the commercialism and putting it out there for everyone all around Who we think is important and are remembering. I know quite a few other people are contributing their Christmas money to things like Heifer Project and other charities in lieu of presents to their relatives and trying to get back to the meaning of Christmas like that. Many years I make homemade gifts and that is also very satisfying but it's because I have first reflected upon what it feels like to give and receive presents that are "just picked out from the shelf at the store and don't seem to be very personal." . I believe the road to the sacred leads through the secular too.
FROM B.S. NEAR ORLANDO: I wonder?!?, I wonder if I give our grandchildrena big gunny sack to put their things in. They get so much, and what for? I just wonder if we should go back to the Christmas we had as kids, and were damned greatful for the apple and orange with a small bag of Zion candy that we received in Sunday School. We also got socks, underwear, and gloves at home. Aunt Lydia used to bring us some 5c Hershey bars (* now made in Mexico ) and we were so gratefull. Incidently, if we got shoes, it was at the start of School in Sept. We were so gratefull for our Ma and Pa, and our aunts and uncles. Hey a hug from Grandma was the greatest.
FROM REV. J.D. IN MINNESOTA: A PASTOR FRIEND OF MINE WAS DYING OF CANCER AND TOLD ME: JOHN I PREACHED ABOUT IMMANUEL MANY TIMES, BUT I NEVER UNDERSTOOD GOD WITH US UNTIL THIS CANCER. IN THE MIDST OF THE COMMERCIALISM MAYBE WE NEED ADVERSITY TO REALIZE THE GIFT OF JESUS.
FROM MOLINER C.F.: If the real meaning of Christmas has been lost, why is there standing room only at the Cathedral on Christmas Day?
1 comment:
Abraham Heschel was a civil rights activist and rabbi. As such, I think his comment needs to be viewed within the context of his life's perspective; and I would suggest his statement is accurate. The fact that, as humans, we are "in the world" necessarily positions us in the secular realm. There is a critical distinction between being "in" the world and not "of" the world. Yet, it does not disqualify us from being in the world none the less. Jesus commands us to "love others as I have loved you", which is performed in the exercises of feeding, clothing, giving shelter to the secular bodies that are in need of the aforementioned. Jesus' examples of Love included a plethora of "secular" miricles of healing specific sicknesses of the body. To pray for one's soul while disregarding his/her physical [secular] state is likely the attitude of the self-righteous or foolish -- frankly speaking. Otherwise, what value was there in Jesus' washing the feet of others? The "gifts of the Spirit" involve application while in the secular realm in which we are inevitably a part. Food is nourishing to our bodies, and yet, there is the great experience of pleasure that accompanies the flavor of that food. Should we choose bland because of the pleasures food provides our secular elements? Or, is it better to be thankful for the gifts of flavor, finding an appropriate appreciation for the blessings afforded us through being human, too? I guess I don't equate secular with commercialism in total. That is similar to throwing the baby out with the bath water. God created the "secular" and said it was good. Man's misuse and idolatry of his own genius for his ability to master the elements of the secular has its own inevitable consequences. On the other hand, our own service to the secular needs of our "neighbor" cannot be transferrable to others or government institutions, but are the foundations of individual Christian ethics, to Love [faith without works is dead]. Scrooge's transformation [a secular example] provides a mannerism for the Christian ethic in practice as well. "Everything for everybody" he exclaimed, and he "acted" on his intention. Jesus stated that He had come to give Life and to give it abundantly. So be it! Secular functions have certain limitations by virtue of their own nature; Love has its limitations only by those one who choose to let Love spoil while in storage [in their own hearts]! Merry Christmas to all as we celebrate the birth of the only One who truly knows, while we continue to guess! More importantly, may we keep the Love of God/Christ in our hearts and freely spill it all over ourselves and others as we seek out those who don't yet know such Love or who have forgotten!
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