This Christmas, times continue to be hard for many. And that -- amid all the presents, parties and holiday gaiety -- is the real story of this mass we celebrate on the birth of Christ.
As I've reminded throughout the years, the real story isn't about a holiday; it is about a holy day. It's about two people summoned from their home and forced to travel to register so the Roman occupiers could count them. The couple had no place to stay. One brief look, and the innkeeper announced there was no room at the inn. Their baby was born in the cold, in a working barn, set in a rough manger on a straw floor.
Just as now, those weren't normal times. Roman occupation was harsh and oppressive. A great expectation arose among the poor and the oppressed. Prophets predicted that a mighty messiah would come -- a king of kings -- to free the oppressed. They expected a powerful warrior able to free his people with the force of the sword.
Wise men from the East saw a bright star in the sky and knew that the Messiah had come. They traveled far seeking to worship the new king. They met with Herod in Jerusalem on the way, telling him of their mission. Herod was disturbed and asked the Magi to report to him when they found the child. The Magi found the child and worshipped him. Warned in a dream, however, they avoided Herod and returned another way. Furious, Herod ordered the execution of all children 2 and under in Bethlehem. But an angel had warned the couple, and they fled to Egypt, immigrants without papers.
Why was the mighty Herod so fearful? The prophet Isaiah had predicted that a child would be born and he would "preach good news to the poor, bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives." And the Gospel of Luke tells us, as a young man Jesus read from Isaiah and embraced his charge to "preach good news to the poor."
The birth of the Messiah foretold a transformation that rightly threatened the Roman governors, the moneychangers, the elites of the time. Everyone expected a mighty soldier. But the Messenger never lifted a sword or carried a shield, held an office or amassed a fortune, yet his Gospel transformed the world. He taught us the power of love and hope and charity.
Christmas should be a time when we hear this message. It is a time to take notice of the poor and the oppressed.
Christmas 2010 saw the United States fighting two wars on the other side of the world. The U.S. faced unemployment, homelessness, hunger -- and many Americans voiced doubts about our most cherished institutions.
This year, President Obama has ended the war in Iraq, and our service members are at long last returning home. Occupy Wall Street has opened the eyes of millions to the excesses of Wall Street. And Americans stood together to protect basic worker rights in Wisconsin, Ohio and elsewhere.
We do have many blessings, and in small ways, some of us might be better off than last year. Yet, a great many stockings still hang empty this year. Christmas 2011 shows us there is still much to do. We have 49 million Americans in poverty, nearly one in two is low income or below. About 17 million children go hungry. Nearly 50 million have no health insurance. More than 24 million are in need of full-time work. Record numbers are in jail. The Army Times reports 18 veterans commit suicide every day.
This Christmas, let everyone take a moment for the real story. Let us take stock of how we treat the young in the dawn of life, the poor in the pit of life, the elderly in the dusk of life. The real gift wasn't the presents that the Wise Men brought; the real gift was the child wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.
Merry Christmas, everybody.
Follow Rev. Jesse Jackson on Twitter: www.twitter.com/revjjackson
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Obviously, Jesse Jackson is not alone in his misconceptÂion of Christmas. It works, however, to show the power of the Catholic Church that the day they arbitrarilÂy decided to celebrate the Christ Mass is still in effect even today when it could be commonly known that the man who was Jesus had to have been born during the summer months (that was when the census that called Joseph to Bethlehem was done.)
The reason for the season is the Winter Solstice and that the darkest days are now past, the day stolen from a Pagan observance (the Catholic Church loved doing this - Sunday worship is another example.)
The reason for the season is the Winter Solstice and that the darkest days are now past, the day stolen from a Pagan observance (the Catholic Church loved doing this - Sunday worship is another example.)
Thank you so very much.
One day of the year, I forswear cynicism and rejoice in the simple things of life. Forget the messenger, the words are still valid regardless of who said them. In this time let us remember those who have not the things that we have. Those who are far away from home risking danger for us, whether they be in a firefight in Afghanistan, or braving the savage ocean to bring income for their families (I work at sea, although I am lucky to be on land this year). Those who have experienced loss this year, whether it be a loved one, a job or a home. Let our thoughts be with them.
Peace on Earth and goodwill to all this Christmas.
Fanned and faved.
I have been you friend and fan since I heard you talk for hours on the Sunday after MLK was Assassinated by Operation 40.
You spoke with the most heart felt reality of what America was all about and what it was not. Unfortunately, not much has changed, but you change or clearified my life that day as a 19 year old GI. I have spend my life living those ideals.
True, I have spend my life saving my soul. But I think the was the Message of Christ
"Give away all that you have, pick up your cross and follow Me"
Christ did not save the Poor. He said: "You will always have the Poor". But I think you and we all should help the poor by teaching them to help themselves by transcending the Carnal World and EGO Self to the SPIRIT of GOD itself
I learn since that Sunday to realize the Black Struggle in America was the real Christianity of following Christ and not fighting the YOKE of Slavery as Christ taught.
We do live in the this Carnal World as we enlighten to THE SPIRIT. So as we walk. Surely you can help the poor and down trodden. You can fight the greed of the selfish Stock Trader. But we cannot loose sight of becoming the SPRIT OF GOD. Help others, not by hand out, but hand up.
Can I find your speech you gave that Sunday out there?
The founder of Chick FilA, Truett Cathy, is a person that said you should not have a set of ethics for business and a different one for your personal life. It's all about ethics.
However, you are right about the separation of church and state. So I guess that leaves us with ethics. Now if we could just get the elected representatives to represent us.