And so this is Christmas...well not yet

J.M.J. + O.B.T. + M.G.R.*

A first shopping trip to the commercial center of Corpus Christi this holiday season provided a sobering glimpse of Christmas preparations in this city of 300,000.  Something was sorely missing. It wasn't snow or caroling. No, it was something more familiar, more visceral, more do I dare say human?

It seemed as if people were suffering from radiation sickness.  It felt as if minds were dulled, as if hearts were cold stone.  It seemed as if my wife and I were playing lead in an episode of the Twilight Zone.

Why is everything so discombobulated? 

Why did God suddenly call Fr. Santan Pinto, SOLT to eternal rest?  So young, at only 63 years of age.

Why is the Christmas music saccharine to my ears?

Why is are the Christmas cookies bitter and brittle?

What is going on?

As I hear the green jays assembling in our back yard, 30 minutes before sunrise, I realize that it is the song of creation that is missing.  We are now deeply embedded in the STEMification of humanity. A transformation of our nature that is anything but natural. This transformation is being dictated by the controlling forces of the world, not the creative Spirit of God.

We should be in a limestone cave right now, waiting for the True Light.

We should be with the animals and the shepherds.

We should be deep in prayer and self sacrifice.

We should be at peace.

John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band provided the soundtrack to America's Christmas in 1971 when I was my eldest son's age.

The lyrics to Happy Xmas (War is Over):

So this is Christmas and what have you done,
Another year over, a new one just begun.

And so this is Christmas, I hope you have fun,
The near and the dear ones, the old and the young.

A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one without any fears.

And so this is Christmas for weak and for strong,
The rich and the poor ones, the road is so long.

And so happy Christmas for black and for white
For the yellow and red ones let's stop all the fights.

A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one without any fear.

And so this is Christmas and what have we done
Another year over, a new one just begun.

And so happy Christmas we hope you have fun
The near and the dear ones, the old and the young.

A very merry Christmas and a happy New Year
Let's hope it's a good one without any fear.

War is over if you want it, war is over now.

And so let's hope it's a bright sunny Christmas on December 25th as we pray that war does end when the Mystery of Truth, of love, joy and peace is revealed to all.

Merry Christmas! 

Sincerely yours in Jesus and Mary,
Mike Rizzio

Imitate Mary
Become like Jesus
Live for the Triune God

Seek the Light of Our Lord Jesus Christ
See you on the High Ground!


* - J.M.J. + O.B.T. + M.G.R. stands for:
Jesus, Mary and Joseph;
O Beata Trinitas;
St. Michael, St. Gabriel and St. Raphael