The story of Christ's birth is a story of promise, hope, and revolutionary love. How did it turn into a season of stress, traffic jams, and shopping lists?
Its a sad state of affairs when we turn a day of Thanksgiving into a pre-game (and in some cases the start) of a shopping spree which entails camping out in front of big name stores for sales on junk we don't really need and soon after won't really want. Last year it also included a security guard from a Walmart literally being trampled to death by people looking for a good deal. This year there were several shootings, a stabbing, and numerous brawls. It seems that Occupy Walmart has outdone Wall Street this Black Friday.
I sadly believe that it will never be enough. When we base our happiness on the accumulation of stuff, we will never be satisfied because there will always be something else we simply cannot live without. Aquinas stated, “if the question be asked how must one’s possessions be used, the church replies without hesitation that man should not consider his material possessions as his own but as common to all.” St. John Chrysostom said, “if you have two shirts in your closet, one belongs to you and the other to the man with no shirt.”
The point is simply this, your life is not about you.
No comments:
Post a Comment