December 17

The Ghost of Christmas Present serves as the symbol of the ideal Christmas, a time of joy, celebration, generosity and good will. The throne that this ghost sits on is made of food. It almost has an appearance of someone like King Henry VIII, eating and gorging. Christmas is not a time of self-denial (that will come with Lent). Christmas is a time to celebrate with all sorts of goodies and food. It is a time to spend with friends. It is a time to share.

During Dickens’ time, there were strict laws governing the payment of debts; those who could not pay ended up in prisons or workhouses.

Earlier in the story, two men came to Scrooge with the sense that Christmas is a time of sharing, sought Scrooge out for a donation to help the children. Scrooge’s response, “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”

When Scrooge is confronted with two small children beneath the cloak of the Spirit wondering who they were, the Spirit will respond, their names are Ignorance and Want. Scrooge inquired if nothing can be done to help them,. The spirit will mock Scrooge, “Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?”

Don’t you love it, when someone uses your words against you?

As we celebrate Christmas and the joy of Jesus born in a manger, let us remember to share.
Perhaps this Christmas, God is using some sort of “spirit” to show us where we can reach out and share in the spirit of Christ.