Two years ago, I wrote how never in my life did I ever imagine that I would be celebrating Easter at home by watching it online. By the same token, most of us did not imagine that we would be entering a second Christmas season under the thumbs of a bureaucratic state working in tandem with a pharmaceutical cartel. A cartel that wants far more than to just have a monopoly on the manufacture and the distribution of Covid vaccines, but to arrogate to themselves the role of a worldly savior who alone has access to the right juju with which to control all of life’s difficulties.
As the Everyman’s own Auguste Meyrat has recently written, “Governments and institutions have largely taken an anti-Christian stance, filling in its place various forms of tribalism, statism, or collectivism—all of which seem to act as denominations of a broader faith that idolizes COVID.” This has plainly been seen by how much power the state has allowed these unelected cartels to hold over the most intimate details of Americans’ daily lives. After all, the fact that the figure of Santa Claus was made to bend the knee last year by allowing himself to be vaccinated by Dr. Faucci should’ve been a warning bell as to how much power these technocrats are willing to grasp for.
With that in mind, it should’ve come as no surprise that these modern day Herodian satraps are once again going after the life of our Lord (and his children), by making a move to control churches and their worship services. Unfortunately, this was far easier than they expected given the number of bishops that preemptively kowtowed to the state and cancelled services or set up ridiculous “safety” rules that we now know had no effect. For in the end, as most of us have already figured out, all of the rules and regulations were never been about safety, but about obedience. Obedience to the state or the collective over everything else.
Moreover, it is no coincidence that this struggle is reaching a crescendo during the Christmas season, partly because it's when people gather together, but mostly because this has been the way of the world since our Lord became one of us so that he might save us. The perennial forces of Herod or Cesar wants to usurp Christ’s saving narrative for themselves, by making such a blatant power grab- given that subtly didn't work.
Ultimately, everyone, especially Christians, have chosen their sides between those who follow blindly in the dark and those who by the light of Christ have their reason, judgment, and plain old common sense perfect to live out their faith as they see fit. Both sides are well aware to whom they feel accountable to, for as Catholic commentator Michael Voris once wrote, “This infant has come to declare war, to build his fortress, to destroy the enemy. this is the Good News, that the day of our liberation has arrived. He is not so much ‘babe’ but king.” Thus our Lord’s birth set into motion a perpetual struggle that will last until he returns again at the end of time, as Psalm 48 says after describing the splendor and might of the city of Zion where , “Thy (God’s) right hand is filled with victory.” The Covid cartels know this, and despite their best efforts, the same Psalm tells us that “For lo, the kings assembled, they came on together. As soon as they saw it (City of Zion), they were astounded, they were in panic, they took to flight.”
Thus no matter what twisted machinations are brought to bear on us this Christmas or in the future, when we celebrate our Lord's birth this evening, we do so knowing that his victory is a done deal. Our Lord already ran the gauntlet of a sinful and fallen world and came out on top. So when we sing at mass “what child is this?”, we can confidently say that this child is Christ the Lord, the conqueror of sin and death, and who with the sword of his holy words will return one day to judge the living and the dead. Put that in your votive Tony Faucci and see how well it burns for you!
So while our celebration of Christmas might not be as merry as we would like it to be, considering all of the tensions deliberately stirred up by the jabbers, we should still see it was “bright” because Christ is still that “great light” that will illuminate the darkness, now and always. So hold fast to your faith and continue to be a bearer of the Christ’s light.
A Christmas Gift to Our Readers
For going on four years now, The Everyman has striven to bring you relevant, reasonable, readable commentary by a variety of writers and on a wide various topics. We would like to this moment to thank all of our readers and subscribers for their continued patronage, and to wish all of you a very merry Christmastide. May this coming year bring us a better and brighter world.
As a special gift to our readers, we asked some of our contributors to write a little something about themselves beyond their standard writer’s bio. In particular we asked them to share some of their favorite things about Christmas such as books, films, music, or other Christmas traditions. Here are the ones we received.
1. Martin Friedenthal
My name is Martin Friedenthal, I’m a senior in college and last summer I climbed Mt. Saint Helens in Washington State. As a hobby I like to collect 1970s Seiko Watches and Japanese Chronometers.
My favorite Christmas film is The Polar Express and my favorite holiday song is “Christmas Wrapping” by The Waitresses. As for my favorite Christmas tradition, I remember when I was a kid, I would be able to open one present from my parents (not Santa) on Christmas Eve. Then we’d have Sushi at Jinbeh in Frisco. Finally we’d set up milk and cookies for the big man (store bought and none of that almond reduced crap), all before I’d have to be in bed by 9:30.
2. David Breitenbeck
I am a professional writer, author, software developer, and YouTuber, who has acted in 'Hamlet' (though not as Hamlet), I holds a black belt, and would wager that I can identify any 'Godzilla' film based on a single screenshot.
My favorite Christmas film is, I suppose, It's a Wonderful Life, which I consider to be the best American film of all time. I also would cite the original Miracle on 34th Street and The Muppet Christmas Carol (though the George C. Scott version is also very good).
Most of our family Christmas traditions are pretty typical, but for my own part I have a tradition of opening the season by watching The Star Wars Holiday Special (it's still better than The Last Jedi). Happy Life Day, everyone!
3. Caroline Furlong
I am a Catholic short story writer and blogger who is known for startling her friends by remembering almost every story she has ever enjoyed. And I have a similar knack with music, and may hum whatever tune pops into my head and at times break out into joyful singing. This makes Christmas one of my favorite times of the year, since it combines my three loves: Faith, story, and song. My Faith is celebrated over twelve days, as I get to watch my favorite Christmas story – in season! – The Muppet Christmas Carol, and it gives me many, many excuses to sing despite an utter lack of training!
If you want to learn more about my fiction (they make great Christmas or Epiphany gifts!), then visit my website (www.carolinefurlong.wordpress.com) and my newsletter over at (www.carolinesnewsletter.substack.com). When I not writing stories or blogging, I review fantasy and science fiction that doesn’t get enough attention from mainstream reviewers, over at www.upstreamreviews.com.
4. Colby R. Anderson
I love Japanese art and culture, as long as it predates the Meiji Restoration. Like many conservative-leaning "highly online" young people, I have a disdain for anime, but I find the poetry of Matsuo Bashō transportive. My wife doesn't understand it, but nothing hits my soul harder than a well-written haiku. Plus, there is no cooler warrior class in all of military history than the samurai.
As for Christmas films and music, I could go back and forth on this a lot, but I will never get tired of Bing Crosby's rendition of "Good King Wenceslas." Although, if we're honest, Bing Crosby is the undisputed king of Christmas music so it's hard to pick out a clear winner from the songs he has performed.
In terms of Christmas traditions, my family, being largely unchurched for most of my childhood, didn't really do much on Christmas other than open presents. But I remember for a time we would go over to my stepmother's mother's house (my step-grandmother?) and have a gigantic Christmas breakfast. Not sure how common that is, but nothing says Christmas to me now like a bottomless dish of scrambled eggs!
5. J. Antonio Juarez
During the day I work in retail in a major home décor and craft store chain as a customer service manager. I handle customer complaints, keep a lid on personnel problems, and some times write (and announce) the ad copy you’ll hear broadcast in the stores telling you what the latest sales are. On the side, I am endeavoring to get back into writing short stories, and I try to spend as much time with my kids as I can- watching movies or going for hikes or biking in the great outdoors.
When it comes to Christmas movies, I like A Christmas Carol with Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) as Scrooge, as it shows a very holy transformation of Scrooge at the end. As for music, I used to be in the habit of buying one Christmas album every year, and out of all of them, two stand out. There is the Christmas Caravan album by the Squirrel Nut Zippers is which were a unique blend of pop, blues, bluegrass, jazz, dixieland, and big band era music, and were a surprise hit out of the 1990’s. Plus, the album has one of the most politically incorrect (but sung with tongue firmly placed in cheek) Christmas songs on it (“Indian Giver”) that my kids used to love to belt out but their mom would freak out over. Also, there’s Merry Axemas which was collection of Christmas songs played by prominent rock guitarists, who used their best heavy metal riffs to give glory to the newborn king.
As for Christmas traditions, my kids are older now, but we still like to go mass on Christmas Eve and then drive through neighborhoods that have brilliant Christmas lights and displays afterwards while listening to Kenny Wayne Shepherd's version of "Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer", The Trans-Siberian Orchestra's "Oh Holy Night", or the Brian Setzer Orchestra's rendition of the "Nutcracker Suite."
Photo Credit- churchofstmartin.org