Oh, they mean that there won’t be family gatherings or gift giving or any kind of celebrations. I get it. Do they? Do they know what Christmas is really all about?
Sure, we all like the presents and the feasts and the caroling. But would Christmas come if we never had any of these things? You bet it would.
Charlie Brown bewails his failure in finding a good Christmas tree in A Charlie Brown Christmas and asks what Christmas is all about. Linus then quotes from Chapter 2 of St. Luke’s Gospel. “And that’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.” St. Luke’s words bring hope and cheer to a depressed individual and teach a lesson to the rest of the gang.
Dr. Seuss’s Grinch is a malevolent character who is determined to ruin Christmas for all the little Whos who live down in Whoville. He stole their trees and decorations, their toys and gifts, and even their roast beast. He left nothing, not even a crumb for a mouse. Christmas Day dawns and each Who comes out of his house to gather in the town square to sing “Welcome Christmas.” Their faces are radiant as they sing “Christmas Day is in our grasp! So long as we have hands to clasp!”
The Grinch, perched on the top of Mount Crumpet, watches in horror as the Whos celebrate. How could Christmas come when he took all their material goods? He puzzles over this and concludes that “maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.” The Grinch, much like Scrooge, has an epiphany, repents, and resolves to amend his life.
This offer of forgiveness and love is what Christmas is all about, and will be there on Christmas Day, no matter how the world tries to prevent it.
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