Pope Benedict, Linus, and the Grinch

As he did a week ago, Pope Benedict again commented on the commercialization of Christmas.

Last Sunday, while delivering his weekly Angleus blessing to a crowd gathered in St. Peter's Square, Pope Benedict said, "In today's consumer society, this time of the year unfortunately suffers from a sort of commercial 'pollution' that threatens to alter its real spirit."

Yesterday, the Holy Father once again decried the materialism that overpowers the meaning of Christmas.ROME (Reuters) -- Pope Benedict urged Roman Catholics on Sunday not to commercialise Christmas, saying joy -- not expensive objects -- was the real gift of the season.

..."Joy is the real gift of Christmas -- not expensive gifts that only cost time and money -- but joy," he said, speaking in a hoarse voice.

"It is joy that should be communicated. We can communicate joy in a simple way, with a smile, a gesture," he said.

...In his improvised sermon, the Pope also told the faithful to remember that God was the "only insurance" to help people deal with sickness, loneliness and death. "Only one insurance protects us. Only the Lord, and he tells us not to be afraid," he said.

I love that the Pope is reiterating this message.

If you are bigoted and automatically dismiss all things that the Catholic Church offers the world, perhaps you're more comfortable listening to Dr. Seuss.

In 1957, Dr. Seuss created the Grinch to deliver a similar message -- Christmas is about a joy that cannot be bought.




"Pooh-pooh to the Whos!" he was grinch-ish-ly humming.
"They're finding out now that no Christmas is coming!
"They're just waking up! I know just what they'll do!
"Their mouths will hang open a minute or two
"The all the Whos down in Who-ville will all cry BOO-HOO!"

"That's a noise," grinned the Grinch,
"That I simply must hear!"
So he paused. And the Grinch put a hand to his ear.
And he did hear a sound rising over the snow.
It started in low. Then it started to grow...

But the sound wasn't sad!
Why, this sound sounded merry!
It couldn't be so!
But it WAS merry! VERY!

He stared down at Who-ville!
The Grinch popped his eyes!
Then he shook!
What he saw was a shocking surprise!

Every Who down in Who-ville, the tall and the small,
Was singing! Without any presents at all!
He HADN'T stopped Christmas from coming!
IT CAME!
Somehow or other, it came just the same!

And the Grinch, with his grinch-feet ice-cold in the snow,
Stood puzzling and puzzling: "How could it be so?
It came without ribbons! It came without tags!
"It came without packages, boxes or bags!"
And he puzzled three hours, `till his puzzler was sore.
Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before!
"Maybe Christmas," he thought, "doesn't come from a store.
"Maybe Christmas...perhaps...means a little bit more!"





Charles Schulz echoed these thoughts in his 1965 creation, A Charlie Brown Christmas.

In the midst of Charlie Brown's depression and spiritual crisis, Linus explains:


"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks 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 unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you this day is born in the City of Bethlehem, a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes and 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'".

That's what Christmas is all about, Charlie brown.



The commentary of Pope Benedict, the Grinch, and Linus holds significance for people of all faiths, believers and non-believers.

For a moment, take out the Christian message. Set aside the religious references and their opinions about the connection between the birth of Christ and the commercialization of the celebration of Christmas.

For a moment, think about materialism in general, and how it impacts your life.

What do you value?

What lends meaning to your existence?

What gives you peace?

Be honest.

For instance, I've heard SO many people say, "My family means more to me than anything else."

I've noticed the disconnect between what those people say and what those people do. It's very simple to make that statement. It is quite another thing to put the words into action.
SO often, the ones claiming to care most about their loved ones actually behave in a manner indicating that their careers come first, and large homes, and expensive cars, exotic vacations, and the myriad material goods that the marketplace has to offer.

If you have all that money can buy, does it make you happy?

If you don't have this stuff, are you miserable because you are lacking?

Materialism doesn't do it for me.

I learned when I was very young that money and all it allows one to acquire is worthless in the end.

Worthless.

I believe that the most precious thing we have on this earth is time.

It can certainly be wasted. It can be lost, but can't be retrieved. When time is squandered, we are utterly powerless to undo it.

I value life and love. Relationships, principles, honor, integrity, and justice are important to me.

Basically, if it comes in "packages, boxes or bags," it's unimportant.

Of course, there are material items that I cherish, like hand-written notes from my grandparents and great-grandparents; or my mother's cookbook, a binder of family recipes she typed up, with additional jottings that she wrote in the margins; or the dining room set that generations of my loved ones gathered around to share meals, in times of great joy and tremendous sorrow; or the hand-made gifts and cards I've received from my children.

But even these material things are only meaningful to me because of the lives behind them. It's the love symbolized by the items that gives them value.

In terms of 21st century culture, I'm a misfit. I don't look to its gods of materialism and consumerism to guide me. I find no peace or comfort there.

I know what I care about. I know what matters to me. It's not money or anything it can buy.

In short, when it comes to Christmas gifts, I'm really easy to shop for.