My pastor mentioned to us after Mass yesterday that it hit the news before Christmas that many Protestant churches would not be having any kind of Christmas service on Christmas Day because, as one person put it, it should be spent with one's family and going to church would take away from that. I was floored. How could honoring the birth of Jesus and His Blessed Family take away from our own family? What is an hour out of our Christmas Day in comparison to the graces of showing children what comes first in our lives?
Ever since my children were babies, they came to church with us on Christmas. When they got older, it didn't matter what time they got up, there were no gifts until after church. They learned that they were a small part of the glory of the day and each small part has a definite place in God's plan so it is proper to be in our place, in God's house first thing on Christmas morning.
I can't help but think there would be something missing from Christmas Day if there was no visit to the church with the glory of shared Christmas hymns and grateful thanksgiving that we are together to share another holiday. The moment someone feels that taking time for shared worship is taking away from the family, you feel a bit more of the spiritual world crumbling in our souls. Aren't we supposed to love God with our whole being and our neighbor as ourself? Seems that joining in prayer on a regular basis, especially, on feast days such as Christmas, embodies this perfectly.
I think my pastor couldn't quite believe the news as he said he drove around our town and, sure enough, many of the churches had banners out saying "No Service on Christmas Day".
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