When I was growing up, this time of year was a time when all children would watch on television A Charlie Brown Christmas. It would only air for one night and the entire family would gather around the television to watch. It was a special tradition. The many storylines of the episode were true then as they are now.
Charlie Brown complains about the overwhelming materialism surrounding the Christmas season. The characters of the show prepare to put on a Christmas pageant, just like we do here at Saint Helen Catholic Academy. Charlie Brown is tasked to get a Christmas tree which becomes famously tiny and barely can support one ornament. The episode reaches a pivotal point when Linus goes on stage and recites the Christmas Story from the Gospel of Luke. After he recites the gospel story he explains that this is the true meaning of Christmas.
What is noticed only by a few, is that Linus when telling the gospel story, drops his security blanket as he speaks. The character of Linus is always shown as him carrying a blanket. It was his support, his security, or simply something that soothed him or made him feel good. The only instance Linus is depicted not holding his blanket is when he tells the Christmas story of Jesus being born from the Gospel of Luke. This is something to think about. The writer, Charles Shultz, is subtly telling his audience that no matter what we perceive as our safety or security in this life is nothing compared to what Jesus can offer. I invite each and all of you if you have never seen this moment in television history to check it out. Yes, Jesus is the reason for the season and even a cartoon character lets us know this in the most subtle of ways!