Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays? It Doesn’t Really Matter.
Kevin O’Brien, S.J. believes living a Merry Christmas is more important than saying it. His video on the debate has more than 10 million views.
Kevin O’Brien, S.J., dean of the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University, doesn’t like the concept surrounding the War on Christmas. He feels it’s a distraction from more important topics and a discussion Jesus wouldn’t care much about.
“(Jesus) was not concerned about promoting himself but promoting the reign of God, a community of justice, peace, and love,” O’Brien says. “Live as Jesus did. A life of simplicity a life of generosity, a life of service, a life of welcome, and hospitality to others.”
And it appears he isn’t alone. Fr. O’Brien recorded a video discussing the topic of saying Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays for Mic.com. Since it was posted across the website’s channels, the video has been viewed more than 10 million times.
The message in the video is intended for all audiences. It’s bipartisan and inclusive, with the resounding theme to focus on the richness of Jesus’s message rather than semantics.
Fr. O’Brien stressed that diversity of faith strengthens all faiths, and explaining it was everyone’s responsibility to support the rights of others.
So, this holiday season, take Fr. O’Brien’s lead and send a welcoming message. Well, a few messages: “Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Peace to All.”
Read more about the video in The Mercury News.