You may remember that story of the man hearing a choir sing "O Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world," and he thought to himself, "If only he COULD take away the sins of the world. What a tremendous and joyful thing that would be “no more wars, no more broken homes, no more abused children, no more hatred, envy, bitterness and strife. If only he COULD take away the sins of the world."

Christmas has become more of a secular holiday than a sacred one. It has become an occasion for blatant materialism and superficial piety. Persons who never think of Jesus the rest of the year put stars on their trees and maybe even a crèche scene on their mantle. It is an ideal excuse for ceaseless parties and stolen kisses under the office mistletoe. Amid all this celebrating and sentimentalit…