Every year, without exception, we would stand around my father as he sat in his Barcalounger with a glass of Canadian Club in one hand and a can of Budweiser in the other, and ask him what he wanted for Christmas. Without looking up from the TNT war movie he was watching, he’d grumble, “Peace and quiet” … while the machine guns were firing and the bombs were exploding on the television.
Now that I think about it, I suppose a guy who watches and rewatches every war movie ever made is in serious need of peace and quiet, but I suspect that when my father said he wanted peace and quiet, he really meant, “Just leave me alone.”
Even though he was 100 percent Italian, somehow, someway he must have been a spiritual descendent of that great Englishman, Ebenezer Scrooge, who was conceived in the imagination of Charles Dickens. In the end, Scrooge was redeemed, and so was my father, when he got into recovery for his alcoholism.
He lived his last Christmases in joyful sobriety, surrounded by his family in good times and in bad, having achieved a certain measure of peace and quiet. Much more than any person can hope to achieve.
However, my wife has adopted his cynical response. Whenever she’s asked, “What do you want for Christmas?” she promptly responds, “Peace and quiet,” which I suspect translates to “Don’t bother me and I’ll be fine.”
The more I think about it, though, true peace and quiet would be wonderful gifts during the Christmas season. Do you remember when the angels appeared to the shepherds watching their flocks by night? Do you remember their message of peace on Earth? To quote the Gospel account of Luke:
“The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David, a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: You will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.’And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest and on Earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’”
“On Earth, peace to those on whom his favor rests.” What a great gift. And as Jesus often said during his public ministry, especially at the Last Supper when he gave us the Eucharist, which is the greatest gift of all: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.”
What a timely reminder this Christmas when so many people suffer spiritual deprivations such as anxiety and fear because we live in a troubled world with an uncertain future.
Yes, we need peace. As for the “quiet,” we could all use a little more of that in a society that is addicted to chronic distractions like social media, 20-hour news, and endless political outrage, which lead to anger and division. Turn it all off, and look for the peace and quiet that only Jesus can give.
If I could get one more gift, in addition to peace and quiet, it would be hope. This Christmas, we need hope more than ever because we live in a world devoid of hope.
It helps to remember the example of St. Paul, who suffered more afflictions, hardship and persecution than we do. During all his trials, however, he found the courage to say, “We even boast of our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, and endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”
And later in the same Letter to the Romans, he said: “Hope and joy mingle in our hearts when they are expressed. As we persevere and endure through whatever God wills for us, hope produces the depth of joy that carries us through that which is to come.”
So this Christmas, spend some time sitting in silence before the Blessed Sacrament and ask Jesus to fill your heart with peace and quiet and hope … and he will give you all you need.
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By Joe Pisani
