Christmastime is full of opportunity
Pope Francis’ appeal for peace in the world last Christmas fell on deaf ears.
The world is no closer to peace now — Christmas 2024 — than it was then, and perhaps even farther away, judging from the scope, deaths and destruction of the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza and the long-running civil wars in Syria and Yemen.
Whether there are any prospects for “constructing” a more peaceful world over the next
12 months is anyone’s guess. Perhaps the only one who knows is the Savior Jesus, whose birth on earth Christians around the world are celebrating today.
For the Jewish people around the world, meanwhile, the start of the 8-day holiday of Hanukkah begins at sunset on Dec. 25, commemorating the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after its defilement by Antiochus of Syria.
For Christians, joy is supposed to be the centerpiece of the Christmas celebration but, unfortunately, joy is absent from large swaths of this planet today.
The planet’s future will remain bleak unless leaders of warring nations begin embracing compassion and true reconciliation as tools dedicated to effecting peace and, beyond that, healing from what has transpired for so long for the many people suffering.
Amid the joy of this Christmas celebration, promoting peace has a definite, logical place. And, peace is capable of spreading to others, just like the elements of war.
There is so much bad going on in the world — on seemingly all fronts — that it oftentimes becomes difficult to recognize that there is much good evolving among us. But if you look hard enough you can find it, such as in the people who are dedicating their day to helping feed and otherwise care for the homeless and others in need.
Still, keep in mind that no matter how good things seem to be in your life and the lives of those around you, many millions of people still are suffering for myriad reasons.
Many people wake up Christmas morning not filled with the wonderment, happiness and excitement that we’re often led to believe is universal, but which are not. Likewise, the children, too many of whom are caught up in the turbulence of unhappy home lives resulting from family hardships, breakups, illness, loss of beloved relatives and friends, personal hardships and/or sudden setbacks.
Know that in Jesus’ time, all was not well — that the star Scriptures say was a guiding light for the magi was not a potential cure-all for all that was wrong.
Nevertheless, with the arrival of Christmas each year comes opportunity and, In his address to the world last Christmas, Francis appealed for humanitarian initiatives, dialogue and security to prevail over violence and death.
From the Gospel of St. Luke comes these words:
“Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
“For all the people” — that means for all of us.
Try to do your part so that the words “deaf ears” will never be associated with this Christmas for any reason.