This week we celebrate the most sacred mysteries of our Catholic faith, yet I wonder how many of us will gather to celebrate these mysteries in our churches, or even reflect on them in our homes. Rather, it seems to me that we’ve lost our compass.
The Christian world has allowed the commercialization of the celebration of our Savior’s birth with volumes of retail advertising and the rewards that we have bestowed on them through our frenzied purchasing. What prompts me to write is the encroaching of this commercialization on our celebration of Easter. Check out the Sunday newspaper ads. The simple Easter baskets, in my own family the shared Easter basket, is now morphing into a second extravaganza of toy purchasing or at least the subliminal suggestions that that is what good parents should be doing. Don’t become entrapped. Let your voices be heard and make your resistance known.
Take back the celebration of the Paschal Mystery for your family. Help them to realize that the greatest gift our children have been given is the gift of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. If you do not celebrate these mysteries with your children you cheat them of a most important gift.
Mary P. Boyle is superintendent of schools, Diocese of Camden.
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