6: Christmas (2/2) - A Carol of Joy

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Ruffly Speaking

Religion & Spirituality


In this second Christmas Episode, Fr. Ruff shares his love for Christmastime stories, especially “A Christmas Carol” by Charles Dickens.  Though the fairy tales, fantasies, age-old, and contemporary stories of the Christmas season often contain happy endings, Fr. Ruff explores the truth behind our longing for a peaceful conclusion.  Be it “A Christmas Carol” or the Book of Isaiah, these accounts can bring us to the true meaning of this holiday season—the recognize the Wonder-Counsellor of all creation, God Incarnate.Key MentionsCharles DickensDickens’ Reviving of Holiday CustomsA Christmas CarolThe Life of Our Lord“Spiritual but not Religious.”“Emmanuel” – God with usThe Joy of ChristmasDickens Quotes MentionedDickens says that Christmas is “a good time: a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time: the only time … when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.”“A time for paying bills without money; a time for finding yourself a year older, but not an hour richer…”“A time, of all others, when Want is keenly felt, and Abundance rejoices.”  “The people … shoveling away … on the housetops jovial and full of glee; calling out to one another from the parapets, and now and then exchanging a facetious snowball – better-natured missile far than many a wordy jest – laughing heartily if it [goes] right and not less heartily if it [goes] wrong.”“Customers all so hurried and so eager in the hopeful promise of the day, that they [tumble] up against each other at the door, clashing their wicker baskets wildly, and [leave] their purchases upon the counter, and [come] running back to fetch them, and [commit] hundreds of the like mistakes, in the best humor possible.”Scripture Mentioned“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests.  They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6 Connect with Fr. Ruff:Please send your comments, questions, and feedback to rufflyspeakingpodcast@gmail.com.  We would greatly appreciate any thoughts you have about this podcast project!