Today's readings are Daniel 5.1-30 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Dan.+5.1-30 ), Revelation 21.9-27 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Rev.+21.9-27 ) and Daniel 7.1-8.27 ( http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/search/?q=Dan.+7.1-8.27 ).
As I am writing this, millions of families in my country are preparing for a celebration of Thanksgiving. They will probably center that celebration around a gathering of family and maybe an assortment of friends, along with a big dinner, some sort of noble feast, full of food, drink, talking, and laughing. This is how we seem to kick off the season which is affectionately termed "the holidays" - the period from late November through the first of January, with three major holidays. It's good that we value gatherings with our families. It's good to have a jolly feast now and then. Once in a while it's a fine thing to eat until you think you're going to burst. All the rejoicing we have is, in fact, a very dull foreshadowing of the fullness of joy we can look forward to in eternity, celebrating in the marriage supper of the Lamb, where the Church, his bride, is ushered into eternity.
Yet even as we look at the great times of celebration we may have in the upcoming six weeks or so, there's something more important we need to watch. As we inculcate the precious gift of family togetherness, the inter-generational learning, the opportunities to see people we haven't seen for a long time and learn from their adventures, it is absolutely critical that we remember why we are here in the first place. Let's take a quick look at the historic Church calendar and realize what is happening. The season of Advent begins about this time of year, lasting four weeks, taking us up to Christmas, which then lasts twelve days and is replaced by Epiphany. Advent is a time of longing for the coming of Christ. Christmas is a time of celebration of Christ's presence, and Epiphany is a celebration of Christ's youthful life up until the baptism of John. So we expect Christ, we celebrate Christ, and we watch as the man Jesus grows to adulthood, preparing to bear our sins. This season of holidays is a time of watching our Lord and Savior. What better way of doing that than in the context of a family gathered together?
So my question comes up. Are we so caught up in the busy attitudes of these holidays that we forget to watch our Lord? Are we so busy shepherding our children through the holiday season that it is more like a forced march than a holiday? Are we focused on the tasks rather than on the giver of all good? Have we turned delight into drudgery? In Daniel chapter 5 we read about a culture which has turned feasting and celebration into an end in itself. It is weighed in the balances and found wanting. Let us never be like that. Let us rather look to Christ, the master of the feast, the Lord of life, and celebrate him.
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