Black Friday (2014)

Edited from 2013 edition.

—

Father, God of the Christ child,
        born into poverty, in the filth of a manger.

Where I live Advent begins on December 1,
        the fourth Sunday before Christmas;
a day that introduces a season of waiting,
        leading to the birth of the Christ.

But to be honest, Lord, I think our “holy days”
        may begin the day after Thanksgiving;
on a day wholly devoted to our other faith,
        Black Friday—High Holy Day for materialism.

I can’t think of a day that speaks more
         about what we worship than Black Friday;
one nation devoted to spending money
        on things we believe will bring us joy.

Many will spend the night before forming lines,
        so when stores open they are the first in.
The best deals will be gone within minutes,
        sold to those who run, block, grab, and push.

The holiest adherents have seasoned teams,
        and a plan for getting all the best deals.
They will save hundreds on the hottest items:
        large screen televisions, game systems, phones.

And given our devotion to materialism,
        our faith in things to make us happy;
why are we surprised that churches in malls,
        open earlier and earlier, even on Thanksgiving?

Lord, I know that shopping on Black Friday
        does not make a person a devotee of materialism,
any more than attending church on Easter
        makes a person a practicing Christian.

Only you can see the heart, and you alone know
        whether we have sold our soul to the devil.
We can only see actions and disturbing trends:
        how long until Thanksgiving ceases to exist?

The truth is what happens on Friday or Thursday
        is only symptomatic of a more serious illness.

A nation that believes happiness can be bought,
        that the more we have, the happier we will be.
A people whose most important consideration
        is me and mine, our comforts and our stuff.

We’ve bought a lie as old as a serpent in the garden,
        selling Eve and Adam on a better way to live.
And the cost to us—and to others is enormous,
        if only we could see, if only we would listen.

Amen

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