Christmas this year takes on new meaning in time of pain

The Christmas story recounted in the scripture above is special to all Christians, but the Christmas spirit transcends religions.
It is a spirit of charity, hope, love, understanding, trust and sacrifice that has meaning for each of us in our daily lives. It takes on special importance at times such as these, times of pain such as that felt in the wake of September 11 and times of concern such as that felt by a nation at war.
The story: It is the story of a young woman called upon to perform an extraordinary deed. Of a new husband required to demonstrate unquestionable faith in his wife. Of shepherds and wise men inspired to follow a single star that held forth a promise of something better than they knew.
Much of the modern observance of the holiday has only a fleeting connection to the celebration of the holy day. We have seized on a few lines not from the gospel above, but from that of Matthew. It was he who told of magi coming from the East, who brought the child gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.
And so today, we continue to give to those we love jewelry, aromatic candles and perfume -- not to mention toys, games, books, clothes, candy, fruit, television sets, stereos and the like. One TV campaign this year even suggested wrapping your daughter's new CD player inside a luxury car.
We are not given to arguing with wise men, but Christmas ought to be about more than gold, frankincense, myrrh and its modern counterparts. It must be.
We've looked to Luke and Matthew to tell the story of the Nativity, but Paul provides its heart when he admonishes his compatriots to toil in the service of the weak and to remember Christ's words: "It is more blessed to give than to receive."
Challenge of 2001: This Christmas we have both an advantage and a disadvantage in following Paul's advice,
We have just completed a period of three months that saw one of the most massive outpourings of charity ever witnessed, as millions of Americans sent their gifts to the people of New York City. As a nation, we know how to give.
In the spirit of the season, however, we have work to do in seeing every man and every woman as an individual. It is far too easy at times such as these to draw bright lines between "us" and "them," between those who are perceived as good and those who are perceived as evil, between those we see as friends and those we see as enemies.
The child whose birth is marked today was not incapable of anger against evildoers, but his anger was not blind. Nor can ours be. We are called today to seek peace on Earth among people of good will.