Here's the thing. Christmas at the Compound usually means saying the Masses and then driving to Ma LSP's on Christmas day to celebrate with friends and family. Big fun, but it's in Dallas so I put up lights and don't get a tree, the tree's in D.
This year's different. The eldest's coming in from Fort Hood and we figured we'd spend Christmas together, so I got a tree, at Walmart. It's a ferocious little beast and in tribute to the profession of arms comes with a tactical, dark star. After all, it'd be wrong to give your position away with a sparkly, glittery ornament. They can have that in Dallas.
In other news, we apparently live in an age of mind-bending deceit, chicanery, croneyism, malfeasance, tyranny and godless corruption, of egotistical, psychopathic power masquerading as compassion. But don't despair, instead, with Mary, sing out:
MY soul doth magnify the Lord, * and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
For he hath regarded * the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth * all generations shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me; * and holy is his Name.
And his mercy is on them that fear him * throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm; * he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat, * and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things; * and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel; * as he promised to our forefathers,
Abraham and his seed, for ever.
Why? Because the Almighty is in our midst, in our womb if you like, and salvation, redemption and glory is at hand. As the Apostle tells us, "rejoice, again I say rejoice," as does Mary and as should we. The proud, the mighty, the rich? Scattered, cast down, sent empty away, their seemingly invincible force dissolved as smoke before the wind. Take heart.
Your Homiletic Pal,
LSP