It might disturb us that brutal stories with images of hate and violence are traditionally told so close upon the heels of the Christmas story. It is shocking that violence so quickly breaks in upon the peaceful worship and contemplation of the Christ child. But we must never forget, the image of the Cross is never far from the cradle in which Christ was laid.

Christmas, 2021 - To get at the crux of Christmas, the Gift of Christmas needs to be unwrapped and disentangled from all the consumerization, commercialization, secularization, and the hoards of other “izations” too numerous to mention that hide the true meaning of Christmas from us, and it needs to be returned to the profound celebration that the angel proclaimed and the star points us toward.