Christmas Message - Fr. Gagné

Christmas 2020

Dear Parishioners,

In Dr, Seuss’ story, “How the Grinch Stole Christmas,” we are presented with the harsh and joyous realities of Christmas. In the person of a Grinch and the people of a town named Whoville and its inhabitants we learn that there are always choices and many possibilities to dealing with everyday life.

The Grinch decides to steal Christmas away from the holiday loving Whos, because each year he had to endure the sounds of Christmas; the singing, the sounds made by the children playing with their toys, and the gatherings for the festive dinner. The Grinch decides to steal all the decorations, toys and food. He believes that this will stop the noise once and for all, and that he will be left alone in peace at last.

Disguised as Santa, the Grinch, and his dog Max dressed as a reindeer, he steals the Whos’ Christmas decorations, trees, and all their food, and dumps them into the abyss. As dawn breaks forth and Christmas morning, the Grinch expects the Whos to let out bitter and sorrowful cries, but instead, to his surprise, they sing joyous Christmas songs. This puzzles the Grinch, until it dawns on him that, “maybe Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more” than just presents and feasting. With this realization, the Grinch’s shrunken heart suddenly grows three sizes, and he returns to Whoville, bringing back everything he had taken from the Whos’. The Grinch then participates in the Whos’ Christmas feast.

Like the people of Whoville, we have had so much taken away from us because of covid-19; the loss of people we love, the loss of income, the inability to celebrate with family and friends, and the emotional, spiritual, and physical fatigue caused by trying to navigate the new normal of every day life.

Christmas morning will dawn, and we, like the people of Whoville, will sing Joyous Christmas Songs. We too will discover that, “maybe Christmas, perhaps, means is a little bit more” than just presents and feasting.

So, it was for the shepherds, the wise men, and all people of good will, who beheld the Christ Child, that first Christmas morning, without all the presents and feasting, but only a manger stall for animals.

May the light of the star and the choir of angels dispel the darkness that surrounds us and fill us with the warmth of the birth of Emmanuel, God with us, and make our hearts grow three sizes. Like the Grinch may we allow ourselves to be transformed and filled with love.

May we never allow the bad behavior of other people, the wiles and wickedness of the devil, or any earthly “Grinch,” to take away who we are, as we carry Christmas in our hearts throughout the coming New Year of Grace 2021.

You will all have a special remembrance in all the Masses of Christmas and throughout the Christmas season.

Father Gagné