Merry Christmas!

By Sean McVeigh

Just a few days ago, on December 21, we experienced the darkest day of the year: the winter solstice. This time of year, you wake up and it’s dark outside. You go to work, and when you leave in the evening, it’s dark outside again. We are as far as you can get from those long, warm summer evenings on the beach, when sometimes 7:30 p.m. is the nicest part of the “day.” And yet, somehow, tomorrow we prepare to celebrate the brightest day of the year.

We started fighting back against the darkness right around Thanksgiving. People began putting up lights. Lights on a tree in your living room or on the outside of your house — even if it’s just a single string on your balcony — anything helps brighten the long, dark nights.

It’s no wonder that so many religions celebrate a holiday of light this time of year. It’s only natural that we crave an end to this dark tunnel. Many scholars believe Christmas falls on December 25 because that was the day the Romans marked the winter solstice and celebrated the festival of their sun god. It also provided a smooth transition for Roman pagans interested in switching teams — you still got to celebrate December 25.

In reality, we don’t know the exact day Jesus was born. There is no mention of a date in any of the Gospel accounts. But when He was born isn’t the important part. The important part is simply that He was born. That is what we celebrate with Christmas.

Christmas and movies are synonymous. Unlike the songs we hear ten thousand times each season, it’s almost impossible to fit in all the movies. My wife and I keep a running list of the ones we’d like to get through before the season is over, when, for some reason, it becomes uncouth to watch them.

One movie that isn’t on our list, but is without a doubt a classic, is “A Charlie Brown Christmas.” Toward the end, Charlie Brown presents his sad excuse for a Christmas tree and, unsurprisingly, is met with jeers and laughter from his friends — and his dog. Defeated, he cries out, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?”

Standing beside him, Linus replies, “Sure, Charlie Brown, I can tell you what Christmas is all about.”

Linus then walks to center stage and calls for a spotlight. As it shines on him, he begins to quote from the Gospel of Luke:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”

“Fear not” — even with all the darkness this time of year, light will come once again. You don’t have to be religious for that message to hit home. Maybe that’s why it’s a story that has been told for so long, in all shapes and sizes. Those days of light aren’t here just yet, but they’re on the way.

Merry Christmas!