Thicke.org

Well, it’s only about an hour and and a half before Suzette and I leave for midnight mass, hence the title.

We’ve already had our family gathering last night. You see my mom just started a new job at one of the local VA nursing homes working weekends. So, doing something tonight or tomorrow was a little out. It was great fun, food, presents and love. Suzette got a backpack and a nice Santa doll. Mom got a treadmill. Bobby got a golf passkey that let’s him play local courses on the cheap. I got a great new jacket and some tech goodies.

But, the important thing to remember is the greatest gift of all. Two thousand years ago, God sent us his only begotten son to live, die and rise from the dead for our sins. As you are think about what you have to be thankful for, be sure to put this on the top of your list.

Also, for all you anti-Christmas folks out there, I have a little surprise for you. Almost a year ago I asked Dennis (seminarian for the diocese of Memphis) why he was using “Xmas” instead of “Christmas” in the title of his posts.

This is what he said….

Yeah, as in X, the Greek letter CHI, which is the first letter of the Greek word CHRIST. The Greek letter X has been used for centuries as an abbreviation for the word Christ, not only because it is the first letter of the word, but also because it is in the form of a cross. Of course, it’s tilted to the side, but in the language of Christian symbolism, it’s a very ancient symbol. It’s also why Christians of the middle ages who could not read or write would sign their names using the letter X, as a stand-in for their Christian name. Thus, since X is understood among most Christians to mean CHRIST, then XMAS and CHRISTMAS are equivalent.

Many mistakenly presume that X is like some kind of algebra variable or some kind of secularism or something, but that’s just nonsense.

So the joke’s on you if you think you are taking Christ out of Christmas by using “Xmas”. He’s still in there and more important than ever.