tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168622605417379346.post3338931034171443831..comments2024-01-05T15:54:09.135-06:00Comments on RAsburry's Res: Homily - Epiphany of Our Lord - Midweek DSRandy Asburryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01545983197990430420noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168622605417379346.post-71849506413856627882008-01-16T18:21:00.000-06:002008-01-16T18:21:00.000-06:00Pr. Randy,and they were absolutely distraught when...Pr. Randy,<BR/><BR/><I>and they were absolutely distraught when "the secret" was revealed that there is no Santa Claus. Gasp! The sheer disappointment of the children really tore the parents apart. However, I also noticed another tragedy to the "Santa thing.</I><BR/><BR/>This happened to me, when I discovered that there was no Santa, I got angry? Why? Because it was touted in relation to being good, doing good works. It led me to a lot of skepticism, so much that I became an atheist in uni.<BR/><BR/>This was the effect on me.<BR/><BR/>I am like you , I too because of my experience did not do the Santa thing with my kids.<BR/><BR/>LPCLPChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11352627830833515548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168622605417379346.post-29823171341878656982008-01-16T09:12:00.000-06:002008-01-16T09:12:00.000-06:00l p cruz:Thank you so much for calling me "sane." ...l p cruz:<BR/><BR/>Thank you so much for calling me "sane." That helps on those days when I'm not so sure myself! :-)<BR/><BR/>Christine,<BR/><BR/>Thanks again for your kind words! (Something about a "mutual admiration society" comes to mind :-).<BR/><BR/>On the "Santa Claus" thing: over the years I've had to deal with a handful of parents who had raised their children with the cultural Santa thing (as was I, btw), and they were absolutely distraught when "the secret" was revealed that there is no Santa Claus. Gasp! The sheer disappointment of the children really tore the parents apart. However, I also noticed another tragedy to the "Santa thing." Once the children realized that there is no such thing as "Santa Claus," many of them started questioning whether Jesus is real!! Ouch! Talk about unintended consequences of eternal proportions!<BR/><BR/>So, that's why I thank our gracious God that He gave my wife and I the desire (wisdom?) to *not* do the "Santa thing" with our children. We told them that others would. We instructed them to be gracious and not "spoil the secret" for their classmates and friends at school. But we always made sure to teach that Christmas is about ... yes ... you guessed it ... Jesus! We even came a cross a wonderful little children's book in which the Santa character actually looks for the real focus of Christmas and tells others that he is not it, but Jesus in the manger is. It was a wonderful story. (I almost miss reading it now that our children have grown. :-)Randy Asburryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01545983197990430420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168622605417379346.post-78948307032223433682008-01-14T09:41:00.000-06:002008-01-14T09:41:00.000-06:00Your comments are very much appreciated, Pastor. ...Your comments are very much appreciated, Pastor. And I do like the "waxen nose" analogy!<BR/><BR/>As the commercial Christmas frenzy has increased over the years (and here let me freely admit I am not a fan of the whole "Santa Claus" thing -- let children learn about the real Nicholas and his love for the poor and kindness to children) Advent has gotten short schrift.<BR/><BR/>I know how hard it is for Christian parents to buck the tide in our culture but teaching and modeling the "quiet" preparation of Advent, which has its own liturgical richness, is the best way to prepare for the entire Christmas Season. Especially in the readings for Advent, which are so full of hope and anticipation and yet remind us that history will come to an end when the Lord returns.<BR/><BR/><I>This is what leads me to emphasize Epiphany so much. After all, it's *all ours* in the Church! :-) We don't have to share it with the folks on 5th Avenue. (Same thing with Easter, by the way.)</I><BR/><BR/>Amen to that!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168622605417379346.post-78128488534311802012008-01-13T22:36:00.000-06:002008-01-13T22:36:00.000-06:00Pr. Randy,You are one of the sane ones I know on t...Pr. Randy,<BR/><BR/>You are one of the sane ones I know on this issue.<BR/><BR/>Instead of cursing the darkness, you seem to light up a candle.<BR/><BR/>Thanks,<BR/><BR/>LPCLPChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11352627830833515548noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168622605417379346.post-72974441085621299232008-01-11T15:05:00.000-06:002008-01-11T15:05:00.000-06:00You are most correct, Christine: the world will al...You are most correct, Christine: the world will always be the world. "Christmas" will, I think, always be commercialized, sentimentalized, and even molded like a waxen nose in the societal incarnations (pardon the pun) of it. I say that's all the more reason to observe Advent as the time of preparation (not celebration, yet) and the time of repentance (not indulging in all the goodies and gorging ourselves *before* the real feast!). <BR/><BR/>This is what leads me to emphasize Epiphany so much. After all, it's *all ours* in the Church! :-) We don't have to share it with the folks on 5th Avenue. (Same thing with Easter, by the way.) <BR/><BR/>It also explains why I for one don't get too worked up about the "de-Christianization of Christmas" in the public square. So what, if Target employees or secular radio stations don't say "Merry Christmas"! So what, if the government buildings don't have creches on the front lawn! That's for the Church to do - and do clearly, proudly and boldly. <BR/><BR/>So, yes, let the hypercommercialization of "Christmas" crash and burn...or just spin out of control on its own. Let the Church remain steadfast and joyously proclaim and celebrate the Lord of Life who takes on our flesh and blood and then gives us His Body and Blood to give us that very life!Randy Asburryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01545983197990430420noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8168622605417379346.post-70315422053598389352008-01-11T10:00:00.000-06:002008-01-11T10:00:00.000-06:00Most edifying, Pastor!I sometimes think that the w...Most edifying, Pastor!<BR/><BR/>I sometimes think that the western Church should kick out the notion of "Christmas (not "Christ's Mass", of course)" which secular culture has coopted for its own purposes and go back to celebrating the holy birth, revelation to the nations and baptism of the Lord under the Feast of the Epiphany.<BR/><BR/>Would that leave folks scratching their heads as the hypercommercialization of "Christmas" crashed and burned!<BR/><BR/>But I suppose someone would find a way around that, too. The world will always be the world.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com