Christmas eve is a good time to remember that December 25 is a religious holiday, not the end of a shopping frenzy. Unfortunately, those celebrating the latter greatly outnumber those celebrating the former.
Congress has been busy. In fact, they're looking a whole lot like Santa Clause. After dispersing 958 billiion dollars in tax breaks, Congress allocated a few billions for 9/11 first responders, but only after Jon Stewart had shamed and embarrassed them. Stewart should be commended—that is not easy to do. And they passed legislation that allowed gays to serve openly in the military. And then they ratified a nuclear arms treaty with Russia. All of these were bipartisan efforts. Congress is well pleased with itself. The nation is saved!
But let us return to the spiritual nature of Christmas. No money was found to save the 99ers, who will now be living with relatives or in poor houses or in cardboard boxes under bridges. And for a thousand other crimes, on Wall Street, in Afghanistan, in Iraq, in neighborhoods in San Diego, Tampa or Phoenix, in Washington, D.C. and all over this Great Land Of Ours, no one will pay the price. No one will be brought to justice. For the Wall Street bankers, the punishment for fraud was a bailout from the government. For the many innocent victims of these crimes, no such helping hand was extended.
This is the world we live in. We wish it were otherwise, and so have spiritual seekers of every stripe for thousands and thousands of years. In the western world, we seek God's embrace and a place to go—a Heaven—where we might live fulfilled and happy for eternity. We desire a peaceful, loving and just world. There would be no bankers in this place, no rip-off artists in pin-striped suits. Jesus of Nazareth stated our desires in the Gospel of Matthew, 5:3-12. These inspiring words are called the Beatitudes.
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will possess the earth.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will obtain mercy.
Blessed are the pure of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are they who suffer persecution for righteousness' sake,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you (falsely) because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.
Thus they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Have a happy holiday, Dave. All the best for the coming year.
Posted by: John D | 12/24/2010 at 03:27 PM