Back in the good old days, when it was acceptable in schools to have Christmas plays that told the real story of Christmas, the director of the Christmas Cantata had a hard time with his young inn keeper. When it came time for this lad to say, "There is no room in the inn," the young entrepreneur would reply something to the effect, "Come on in; we'll find something someplace." Finally after numerous rehearsals the director was satisfied that the young man knew his lines. When opening night came, the fateful moment arrived. Along came the visitors and they approached the inn keeper. "Sorry," he said, "there is no room in the inn . . . but come on in and have a drink anyway." During the same scene in another pageant a voice was heard from the back of the auditorium … "You should have made a reservation."

One of the sad realities of the times in which we live in America has been the gradual disappearance of Jesus from the celebration of Christmas. It has always been difficult for me to understand how the simple recognition of the reason for the Christmas season would violate any principle of the separation of the church from the state--a concept, incidentally, that has taken a whole new meaning in the last forty years. I have written about that before and probably will again but that is not the focus of today's article.

Along with the secularization of Christmas, the euphemism, "the holiday season," has become a commercialization of Biblical proportions. Each person feeling obligated to outgive everyone else. Staggering personal debt soon replaces the happy feeling of giving everyone what they wanted. It is good for the economy the headlines proclaim. At least it is good for the retailers and hard on the customers. I am sure there are many on January 1 who will ask themselves if it was really worth it.

I think one of the special blessings of living in San Marcos is that we can share our beliefs and cultures with a special freedom. For several years now Bethlehem has been a part of Sights and Sounds of Christmas. Together we can greet Santa Claus, dance around the Christmas tree and visit the manger of Bethlehem. A high point for me each year is the processional from St John's bringing the faithful to find the Christ Child. Christmas in San Marcos is, as it should be, an exciting time, a time of reconciliation and, yes, peace on earth and good will to all men.