Happy Holidays and Merry Xmas

Get over it. Even if non-Christians think they are neutralizing Christmas by using generic terms like "holiday" and "Xmas" it can't really be done. Sure, part of the rationale is to try to create a term that is all-inclusive of Hanukkah and Kwanzaa. Well, okay, but adding those two celebrations to the mix certainly isn't going to diminish Christian holidays this month. Substituting "holiday" for Christmas isn't going to make that happen. Saying "holiday" only widens the door as it were, for inclusion of a myriad of Christian celebrations and commemorations. At least for me.

What is the derivation of "holiday?" You knew it already: "holy-day." So if you wish me "happy holidays," I hear a good wish for the whole slate of special days during December (here are a few):

December 4: John of Damascus, writer of the hymn texts "Come, ye faithful, raise the strain" and "The day of resurrection"

December 6: St. Nicholas of Myra, the original St. Nick, Saint Claus, or, yeah, Santa Claus, known for his compassion and generosity

December 21: St. Thomas the Apostle, the doubter who turned to belief upon touching the risen Lord

December 25: The Nativity of the Lord

December 26: St. Stephen, the first martyr for the faith

December 27: St. John the Apostle, or variously St. John the Evangelist, or St. John of Patmos (writer of the Revelation of St. John)

December 28: Holy Innocents, for the children slaughtered by King Herod because of his fear surrounding the birth of a new King Jesus

December 30: The Holy Family, commemorating the flight of Joseph, Mary and Jesus to Egypt

January 1: Mary the Mother of Jesus

January 6: Epiphany, Twelfth Night, commemorating the arrival of the Magi to honor the new-born Savior

First Sunday after Epiphany: Baptism of the Lord

to mark Jesus' baptism by John the Baptizer

So if you wish me "happy holidays," thank you. Whatever you may intend, I call to mind these people and events of faith and the days on which we commemorate them this time of year. Whatever you think you're getting away with, this is what comes to my mind. If I happen to hear this good wish on one of the dates listed above, I try to mention that fact to my well-wisher when I can.

And as for "Merry Xmas." You can't take Christ out of Christmas period, let along by using a letter X. Get over it. X is the letter "chi" in Greek, which is the first letter in the name Χριστός which is Christ in Greek. This has for centuries a symbol for Christ our Lord. Don't even think that by using this anyone is taking "Christ out of Christmas." You can't do it with an X. And you pastors who know better, but who rail on with an ignorant general public, or who don't bother to set things straight for the folk entrusted to your care: shame on you for taking the easy way out. Grow a backbone and set your folks straight. In fact an X drawn casually in the sand was a secret way people of faith have signaled their believes to others in times of persecution (especially in the history of the early church). Now it's a secret way for us modern-day people of faith to convey Christ to a public that thinks it's merely creating an abbreviation, or taking

Christ out of Christmas. It can't be done. In reality they are putting our Lord Christ more forcefully in the minds of people who see this symbol. X marks the spot, people! It just needs to be explained to a world that honestly needs to hear more about Jesus the Christ. Get over it, and get with it.

So go ahead, wish me "happy holidays" and "Merry Xmas." I'll take them all, and thereby be reminded of my baptismal vow to go into all the world and convey the love of Jesus to a hungry, thirsty and weary world.