As Americans, we live torn between two wholly different Christmas world views. Our nation begins the celebration of Christmas on Black Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. On December 25th, as our nation concludes the Christmas Season, the Catholic Church begins the Christmas Season which will end on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. As faithful Catholics living in the United States, how do we reconcile or find any balance between these two very conflicting world views? My parents found a way of reconciling this conflict many years ago.
On the first Sunday of Advent, my father would buy our Christmas tree, and set it up in our living room. My parents would drape the tree with lights and garland. My brother and sister and I would place the ornaments upon the tree. Along the base of the tree was a Christmas tree skirt, on top of which was placed our Christmas crèche. Around the base of the tree my father would set up the train tracks for our Lionel train. The Christmas crèche served a dual role as railroad station/birthplace of Jesus. However, the crèche was empty of Christmas figurines and no train was placed on the train track.
Where were the figurines of Mary and Joseph? Starting from the furthest place from the Christmas tree, my mother would move them throughout the living room. As the candles were lit on our Advent wreath, Mary and Joseph would gradually move closer to the stable. The lights on the tree would be turned on at night, however, the space below the tree remained empty, a visible reminder to us kids that Christmas was not here, yet.
When we came downstairs on Christmas morning, we found the Christmas crèche filled with the figurines of animals and shepherds. In their midst were Mary and Joseph, their gaze fixed upon the baby Jesus. The train would circumnavigate the tree, bringing invisible crowds of people to the stable where they, too, could adore the Christ child.
As we journey in this Season of Advent, basking in the light of Christmas decorations, drowning in the endless choruses of Christmas carols, concerts, and holiday specials, parties and food, let us be mindful that Christmas has not yet begun. The space below the Christmas tree remains empty. The real celebration will only begin when on December 25th, within the Christmas crèche, we see the figures of Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus.
