The reason is unclear, but at one point, the pregnant Mary and her husband, Joseph, traveled from Nazareth, ordered by Gaius Caesar ostensibly for a census for tax-related purposes.
(Article 1, Section 2, U.S. Constitution: A population count will be done every 10 years for reapportioning seats in the House of Representatives and for direct taxes.)
Because of the number of travelers, there were no rooms available; it was time to birth Mary’s firstborn, which happened either in a cave or a stable, and the baby was wrapped in cloth and placed in a manger (Luke 2:7)
(Texas CPS policy is to ensure infant safety, and requires safe sleeping environments, proper nutrition and feeding, and a livable home free from trash or infestation.)
Angels appeared and heralded the birth of Jesus, nearby shepherds decided to go see what was up, and they gave gifts to the infant.
(HOA regulations can limit the number of livestock roaming in an area, as well as place certain restrictions such as distance, sanitation, noise, etc.)
A heavenly host also appeared and celebrated the birth of the Messiah.
(Unnamed sources indicated that the word Messiah was non-inclusive of other religions, and therefore committees were empaneled to discuss legislation that would set an equal playing field and require similar celebration of other prophets and idols of worship. The Church of Baal issued a statement: “What’s fair is fair.”)
This little exercise in hyperbolic juxtaposition (then vs. now) is not meant to be serious, but to show that in the rush to create fairness and equality the truth tends to get lost. (I also feel that not all progress is good, but that’s just me.)
The meaning of the season, just like Christianity, has been replaced. Gone is the reverence for the birth of the Son of Man; in its place is merchandising. Even the reason for all of the things associated with Christmas — why the tree is topped with a star, why the tree is strung with lights, why presents are exchanged — have been diminished.
“Merry Christmas” has been replaced with “Happy Holidays,” as if the word Christmas was overly offensive. That is, if you actually hear someone say that. I’ve noticed that shopkeepers don’t fully say that anymore; I ask people I interact to have a Merry Christmas all the time only to see them react with surprise, as it never occurred to them to say that.
My point is that in the quest for fairness, society and governments treat everything — religion, employment, education, income, and more — as a competition, and the perceived frontrunner will have to be hobbled in some way. In the case of religion, even though the government is supposed to keep its paws off worship, has made worship and celebration extremely difficult, especially for Christianity.
It’s not to say that Christmas is only supposed to be for Christians. Jesus, whose birth we supposedly celebrate at this time of year, exhorted us to love each other as God loves us, and everyone is welcome at the table. However, that has been vitiated in the quest to become fair and unoffensive.
I prefer to keep my faith, and I know that I will not attempt to diminish any other belief system. And whether or not you are Christian, the tenets espoused, particularly at this time of year, are about love and peace, and that cannot be wrong regardless of its source.
So to all of you, I wish a Merry Christmas, and may your lives become exactly what you wish them to be, and filled with love and peace.
“The holiday season has been enriched by a score of traditions from many, many lands for all of us to share, as we shared our hearts — the Christmas spirit of warmth, and joy, and hope, and a wish for peace on Earth.” — Wolfman Jack
Tony Farkas is editor of the Trinity County News-Standard and the San Jacinto News-Times. He can be reached at tony@polkcountypublishing.com.
