As we begin this Advent Season, we must recall the Church’spurpose in having us relive 4,000 years in the space of four weeks. From theoriginal sin of our first parents—and God’s promise of a Redeemer born of “the Woman”—therewas a long period of waiting, watching and anticipation. At about the midpointof those 4,000 years, God gave His word to Abraham that the Promised One wouldbe of his offspring. Abraham passed that prophecy on to his son Isaac and Isaacto his son Jacob. The dying Jacob told his son Juda that “the scepter shall notbe taken away from Juda…until He comes Who is to be sent, and He shall be the expectationof the nations.” [Gen. 49,10] About 1,000 years after Abraham, the promisepassed through King David, and 1,000 years later a daughter of Abraham, adaughter of David, Mary fulfilled the prophecy by bringing the Promised Oneinto the world. During Advent, therefore, we are reliving that anticipation forthe coming of the One who is “the expectation of the nations.”

Now, 2,000 years after the great event, we are striving to “keepChrist in Christmas.” When we lost the meaning of the Advent Season, it wasonly a matter of time before we would lose the meaning of Christmas. We cankeep Christ in Christmas only if we keep Christ in Advent.

Traditional Catholics often express concern that the truemeaning of Christmas is drowned out by a frenzy of preparation for the feast,including the preoccupation with buying gifts at bargain prices. The problem ofcommercialism at Christmas begins with us, the devout consumers, if we allowourselves to be swept up in the marketing mania of obligatory gift-giving. Inthe process we often spoil Christmas and risk spoiling our children by teachingthem to look forward to Christmas, not for the coming of the Savior, but forthe “loot” they’ve learned to expect. The admirabile commercium (“wondrouscommerce”) of heaven becomes instead the worldly commerce of Walmart and Macy’s.Our focus is diverted from the manger to the monger. The German word Giftmeans poison, and gifts can become poisonous for the celebration of Christmas.Parents must not let the gifts their children receive at Christmas deprive themof the true Divine Present—the Divine Presence of the Christ Child.

Let the parties and the presents wait untilafter Christmas. Give them during the “12 Days of Christmas.”