By Tim Tesmer, campus minister
In the live-action movie version of Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas, little Cindy Lou Who asks in song, “Where are you Christmas? Why can’t I find you? Why have you gone away? . . . My world is changing. I’m rearranging. Does that mean Christmas changes, too?”
The answer to Cindy Lou’s yuletide contemplation depends upon what one means by “Christmas.” The secularized version of Christmas is continually changing. As a child in my public elementary school, we sang songs about Santa Claus, reindeer and winter wonderlands, as well as songs like “Silent Night,” “Mary Had a Baby, Yes Lord” and “Do You Hear What I Hear?”. Whether one agrees or disagrees, in the 1970s into the early 80s, it was perfectly acceptable to blend Jesus and Santa Claus in our public-school Christmas celebrations. Such is no longer the case and has not been for a couple of decades or so. It is my contention that the vigorous expulsion of Jesus from our public education institutions, especially at Christmas, has profoundly contributed to a benighted populace through the obfuscation of Christmas’s true meaning.
I am blessed to serve at an institution that is proud to uphold the authentic Christmas, the version of Christmas that never changes. Such is a Christmas that celebrates the singular event whereby God became a human in the person of Jesus Christ so that he might one day bear our griefs, carry our sorrows, be crushed for our iniquities and chastened for our well-being (Isaiah 53). When Jesus was born in a manger near Bethlehem, an angel appeared to shepherds who watched the fields by night. The angel announced, “There has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:11). That’s it! That is the true meaning of Christmas. Unto us, a Savior was born, and Jesus is his name. Thus, we have ceaseless cause to celebrate. Perhaps Cindy Lou Who sings a different song today. Why not “Mary’s Boychild”? If I listen closely, I can just make out her unfeigned melodic vocal merrily proclaiming, “Hark, now hear the angels singing, a new king born today. And man will live forever more because of Christmas Day.”
Tim Tesmer began teaching as an adjunct instructor of theology and communications in August 2018, bringing to the College a wealth of teaching experience. In August of 2022, Tim accepted the campus minister position and has been highly active in that role on campus and coordinating the Saint Mother Theodore Guerin Scholars program. Known for being kind to all members of The Woods family, he’s been nominated as Outstanding Adjunct Faculty for three years in a row. Tim also serves as Senior Pastor for Connections Community Church in Greencastle.
0 Comments