Divine Presents

As this year's Christmas season enters its final, frenzied seven weeks, the palace-dwelling Archbishop of Canterbury has launched the traditional denunciation of secular materialism. He pointed out helpfully that people who lack money shouldn't spend it, because "it puts pressure on relationships"; so despite the clear indication at Luke 14 xxvi, it appears that a normal family Christmas, with all its whining, yelling, sulking and petty hatreds, is not something an Anglican should aim for. Nor should one attempt to buy love; rather, one should emulate one's Father in Heaven, who loves everyone equally and repays disobedience with famously paternal fervour. On the more general Yuletide habit of trying to buy peace and quiet, the Archbishop appears to have been silent. Nevertheless, he did go so far as to admit that "giving at Christmas reflects the generosity of God", which has been on such conspicuous display in the Philippines this week.