The Ghost of Christmas Present and Preferential Option for the Poor
A colourised edit of an engraving of Charles Dickens' "Ghost of Christmas Present" character, by John Leech in 1843. PD
Dear Friends,
First, let me say I apologize, like Bob Crachett before me, for being behind my time, but we have been making very merry over the last few days. Second, allow me to say, Happy Christmas. For as most of you know, but some may not, Christmas is not just a day, but a liturgical season. In the Roman Catholic Church it now lasts from Christmas Eve to the Twelfth Night, or the eve of Epiphany. Unfortunately, thanks to the practice of transferring or translating feast days, Epiphany is no longer fixed to January 6th. But while that may affect the prayers said at Mass, it does not necessarily have to change how we view this time of the year.
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas Day, even though I'm sure for many it did not look how it has in the past. I, in particular, missed singing those wonderful Christmas Carols that I love so much. In fact, just last night, a friend reminded me of the time we went to a Christmas Eve Carol Service at Southwell Minster. It was a wonderful service, held in candlelight.
But today, I want to write to you about Charles Dickens' masterpiece, A Christmas Carol. This book, and its many film adaptations has been my constant companion during Christmas time these many years. I could, perhaps, write about so many aspects of this book, but today, I want to focus on one of my favorite characters, the Ghost of Christmas Present.
This character resembles our traditional picture of Santa Claus or Father Christmas. He is robed in green, not red it's true, and his beard and hair begin brown or red, but his jollity, his affection for all mankind, but especially the poor, shows his true colors. He is Father Christmas, he and all his brothers before and after him. He shows Scrooge the importance of caring for those less fortunate than himself, not simply because they are less "fortunate", meaning they have not the income Scrooge does, but also because in many ways they are his betters. This is proven most obviously in Bob Crachett who on Christmas Day is willing to drink the health of his miserly employer and even exhort his wife to do the same.
When Scrooge is overcome by how Bob, who has but 15 "bob" a week, is able to celebrate and be so happy on Christmas Day, he asks the Spirit what will happen to poor, sickly, Tiny Tim. When Scrooge finds out that Tim will die, should these shadows remain unchanged, he is sad. But the Ghost of Christmas Present throws his own words back at him, "Well, if he is to die, then he ought to do it and decrease the surplus population." This is not the last time the Ghost will use Scrooge's earlier words about the poor against him. Because what this Spirit represents in many ways is the Church's preferential option for the poor. Scripture is quite clear that the poor are often holier than the rich. In medieval times, it was believed that the prayers of the poor were particularly efficacious, which led to the common practice of almsgiving. Through this Ghost, Dickens reminds us that often the way we perceive reality, that the rich and important are the better, is quite the reverse.
I said last week that the Ghost of Christmas Present is perhaps the best modern literary example of joviality. We see that not only in his calls to "come in and know him better," nor in his rusty scabbard bereft of a sword, but also in his care for his subjects. The poor may get more of his special incense on their feasts both because they are more genuinely given and because they need it most, but we must not neglect the care he takes for poor Scrooge. Fred is right when says that Scrooge ultimately hurts himself by his attitude toward Christmas and others. He may harm those in his sphere of influence, like the couple who stifle their rejoicing over his death because it will mean more time to pay off their debt. But the harm he can do them is only temporary, the harm he does himself is, as Jacob Marley warns him, eternal.
So as the Christmas season continues, remember that the jovial spirit is one that not only includes joy and magnanimity, but also care and protection for the oppressed. The king's scabbard may be rusted and empty, but that does not mean he cannot still fight to protect his subjects..
Happy Christmas,
David Russell Mosley
