Walking through the streets of my neighborhood at night with my dog, I witness the spectacle of Christmas decorations my neighbors have put on display. I am always amazed by the creative decorations that adorn my neighborhood, from a ten foot Olaf the Snowman blow up to flamingos decked out in Santa hats. However, one common decoration that I feel I see fewer and fewer of is the nativity scene, leading me to ask myself: Have we lost the true meaning of Christmas in our secularized world? 

With the world rushing around us preparing for the coming of Santa Clause, our radio stations, and Spotify feeds filled with Mariah Carrey, I think that we (including myself) often get sucked into the secularized Christmas world. It shifts our thoughts from the coming of Christ to the coming of Santa, from giving ourselves to Christ, to receiving presents. 

Even in the midst of a raging pandemic, we are moving at a rapid pace in preparing for Christmas, always moving from one shop to another, hurriedly putting up decorations, or putting final touches on batch of cookies, we are so often sucked into this black hole of Christmas preparations, become blinded to what we really are celebrating at Christmas, not presents or Santa, but God becoming human, humbling Himself to a mere child in a dark and musty stable, surrounded only by filthy animals and shepherds, all to redeem mankind. 

In this Advent season and coming Christmas season, I encourage you to step away from the craziness of our world and spend some time reflecting on your own spiritual life, but also meditating on the true meaning of Christmas. Do something for somebody else, maybe write a Christmas note to a parent or a teacher.  Spend 5 minutes every day in silent prayer just meditating or maybe read the nativity story from the Gospels in the coming days. Prepare yourself for the coming of Christ, prepare your heart. 

Then on December 25, make Christmas not a mere holiday, but a holy day. Go to Mass in person. Trust me, Churches are safe, across the Archdiocese, you must wear a mask, capacity is limited to 25% and social distancing is enforced, you are completely safe at Church so go if you feel safe, or maybe tune in for a livestream Mass from your parish, celebrate Christ’s birth at or by viewing Mass. Pray a rosary with your family on Christmas, or simply meditate on all the good things you have been given. This Christmas, do something deliberate, step back from the secular world, and put Christ back in Christmas.