Making a difference

     Blandness and commonality are all too evident these days in everything.  Boiling everything down to the least common denominator and making sure no one is offended by who we are and what we say or do is often seen as being in "good taste".  It is true that we should not seek to pick a fight or to purposely be disagreeable, but to deny who we are and water down what we believe leaves us with tasteless and unappetizing truths to share with the world that we live in.

     In today's reading from the Hebrew Scriptures (1 Mc 1:10-15; 41-43; 54-57; 62-63) we hear of a day in Israel when some wanted to "fit in" to the culture of the time, to blend with the customs of the foreign occupiers.  Under the leadership of a "sinful offshoot" of a good king, long held and distinctive customs and religious traditions were ignored, people became assimilated into the new culture, the distinctive mark identifying them to God (their circumcision) was hidden, and the way of living of the Gentiles was adopted.  They abandoned the covenant and sold themselves to wrongdoing, all with the desire to "fit in".  Those who remained true to the covenant suffered greatly, and terrible affliction was upon Israel.

     We see the same thing happening today.  The list could go on and on.  The bishops at their meeting are discussing the challenges to religious liberty that are growing daily.  What we once experienced and which we are guaranteed by law in the U.S. is challenged, sometimes with open hostility but more often by apathy.  Sunday - the Lord's Day - has become anything but ... with sports programs and activities and work continuing as if it were any other day.  Someone the other day was recalling the "Blue Law Days" here in Pennsylvania (stores closed on Sundays).  Time for family ... time for God.  My sister works in retail, and today they were being shown the gift cards the store was getting for the holidays.  There was a "Happy Holidays", a "seasonal snowflake", a "Felice Navidad" in Spanish, even a "Happy Hanukkah", but no "Merry Christmas".  She spoke up and brought it to the attention of management, and hopefully there will be a "Merry Christmas" gift card design included.  They have even moved opening for "Black Friday" (the post Thanksgiving shopping spree) to midnight of Thanksgiving Day (it used to be 4am, I think).  Our gods have changed, our priorities are compromised, our Faith in marginalized, and we are expected to "fit in". 

     But wouldn't it be great to bring a rich flavor to the table of our lives, to stand proud and tall in regard to who we are and what we are about?  I think, with Thanksgiving (to God first), it is time to bring the best to our table and to the hearts of the society in which we live.

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