EDITORIAL: A magical time of year
There's a magic about Christmas. Something in how the stories around it connects us with our childhood and a world where the imagination rules.
One of the most enjoyable things about Christmas is the look in children's eyes as they talk about Santa Claus.
The man from the North Pole was always a bit of an enigma to me as a child. I've even got a faint memory of one year getting up in the middle of the night to see if I could catch Santa in the act. In my mind, I can still recall peering through a crack in the lounge room door to see a red-robed figure putting presents into my stocking.
Sometimes, perhaps, stories take on a life of their own at Christmas.
Hearing the Christmas story as a child has the same kind of magic about it. It's a story with angels, kings, shepherds, and even a villain in the form of Herod. Acting out the story in nativity plays is a way of teaching children about the special role Jesus was born to play in the world.
As we grow older, we see Jesus' as far more than a child in a stable. We learn new stories about his life, and the impact he had on the people around him. In the same way, Christmas as we get older becomes about giving to others, sharing special moments with our family, and celebrating the hope Christ brings to the world.
However, the old stories still hold a place in our hearts, just as those experiences that first cemented our beliefs become the ones we hold onto the strongest. Faith is born out of tiny, magical moments when God's presence is revealed to us, such as the smiles and reassurances of friends, or in the beauty of a purple-hued sunset. In these moments we can again look at the world through a child's eyes and behold the wonders of creation.
I hope this year's Christmas holds the some of the same magic for you. I'd also like to take the chance to thank Jessica Gadd for the wonderful stories she helped bring in her time as editor. As new editor of Australian Catholics, I hope to be able to bring you the stories of more Catholics living out their faith in Australia, as well as stories about how other people uncovered the truth about God's presence in their lives.
—Michael McVeigh
Reproduction of material from any Jesuit Publications pages
without written prior permission is strictly prohibited.
Copyright 2002 Jesuit Publications
PO Box 553 Richmond VIC 3121 Australia
Tel +61 3 9427 7311, Fax +61 3 9428 4450