"Hated Christmas Traditions" by Charles Smith
“All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people” (Acts 2: 44–47).
I was seven years old the first time I realized my family’s Christmas traditions were … different. Christmas was on a Sunday that year, and I found myself in church talking with my two best friends. They were regaling me with meticulously detailed descriptions of all the presents they had received for Christmas that morning. As I listened, I politely smiled and nodded, showing my happiness for their excitement, but inside I was a mess of questions. They opened presents already?! Didn’t they place the angel on top of the tree and baby Jesus in the manger in the creche? Didn’t they eat Christmas breakfast together, read all of Luke 2, and sing “Oh, Santisimo” in the original Spanish, all before opening a single present?
It turns out that my family had many traditions meant to help us prioritize the celebration of Christmas around family, togetherness, and generosity of spirit. And boy, did I hate it. But as I grew in wisdom and stature, I learned to appreciate these traditions that continued to revitalize and bond us together as a family each year.
Through the celebration of these traditions, we experienced a sense of peace born out of our deep connection with each other. This peace is not the absence of conflict or strife, but the presence of willing selflessness, generosity, and a sense of empathy so deep it fosters tranquility.
This is what the early Christians, the newest disciples, found as well. They emphasized having all things in common, to the point of being truly equal with one another. They were equals, not in their power, strength, and riches, as many believed the followers of the Messiah would be. They were equal in their capacity to surrender all selfishness and self-importance, in their ability to connect with each other on a spiritual level, foregoing the material in favor of divine blessing, devoting themselves to the breaking of bread and sharing with glad and generous hearts.
Walt Whitman once wrote, “Peace is always beautiful.” May the beauty of divine tranquility, togetherness, mutual empathy, and deep and holy connection continue to impact our lives this Advent season and all the days ahead.
Charles Smith