My first assignment after seminary was as an assistant at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Hot Springs. A member of our congregation was called "Santa." He was also known as "Mr. Christmas" to everyone in town. He had a real name, but no one used it much to his delight. He was Santa 12 months of the year.
It was in July when he became suddenly ill and died, but that didn't matter to anyone. What do you sing at "Santa's" funeral? Christmas carols and anthems!
I remembered him as I wondered, "When does Christmas begin?" As an Episcopalian, I would reply on the eve of Dec. 24 and continue as a season until the Twelfth Night when the Wise Men arrive.
As an American consumer, I might report that Christmas merchandise went on sale in some stores on July 1. The piped Christmas music really didn't start full bore until around Labor Day.
For me, it really is an all-the-year truth. A part of my Advent discipline is to read the Biblical story of the Nativity in Matthew and Luke on alternate days. In recent years, I have added Holy Week -- from Palm Sunday through Easter. They fit nicely together, and for some of us, the worship service on Christmas Eve is called the Christ Mass. We tell the stories not only of the birth of Jesus, but also the witness of the Upper Room, the Crucifixion, the Tomb and the Resurrection.
I also have a collection of Christmas stories, including a number of "children's" books that contain a lot of adult content as well. As I was reading some of the short Christmas stories from authors such as Charles Dickens, Leo Tolstoy, O. Henry and Truman Capote, I noticed again the reoccurring theme that joined all of their work together. I read in Micha 6:8, "What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God."
I also remembered Matthew 25:40, "Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me."
Christmas is about the giving of the self in imitation of Christ. We are given the gift of the baby in the manger -- Jesus Christ -- so that we can give Him away as a gift to so many in need. Yes, we must feed them and clothe them, but we must also share with them our Christmas story that brings us out of our houses all year long and sits us down in a pew or a chair in a sacred stable. We are given spiritual food, and there are large helpings of grace and the Divine Kiss of Peace for everyone.
I wonder if there isn't hanging in all our closets a red suit with white trimming and a funny looking hat. I wonder if there isn't a Santa Claus in every one of us just waiting to get out and on the road again. Ho, Ho, Ho.
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Parks is rector of St. Theodore's Episcopal Church in Bella Vista. He can be reached by email to [email protected]. The opinions expressed in this column don't necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.
Religion on 12/10/2014