If I had to pick three (Why three you ask? I don't know! It just sounded good at the time.) Holy day productions to symbolize the truth, the significance, and the realities of the Christmas season it would be Peanuts' Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown, It's a Wonderful Life, and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
The Charlie Brown Special is a cultural relic. Today, it would not be made. Period. It is in no way politically correct. It offends at least half of the world. Jesus did, too. Linus gave his peers not only the humbling correct reason for the season, he gave them the Gospel itself: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” The gift of God to man was the lifting off of the burden of the Law, something that could never save us in the first place, and replacing it with the intimate fellowship of God once more dwelling within the heart of man- the war was over, the gulf of separation evacuated. Peace was made to come and dwell with us. God let us know that He was and is pleased with man. Now, some people like to make man an exclusive group. The curious thing is that it means man-kind. All man. Thank you, Mr. Schultz, for writing into your cartoon, an art-form that no adult takes seriously, the Gospel.
The second film, It's a Wonderful Life, is just a great Christ's mass movie. Jimmy Stewart's character is heroic and full of promise. On several occasions he saves people's lives, yet at a crucial moment it is he that needs saving. He is in jeopardy, his family will pay the price of his business's failure, and, in desperation considers suicide as the way to redeem his family of their troubles. It was not his life that was needed for ransom (Jesus did that for him already). The protagonist, who knew what it was to save somebody, now needed saving himself. It was folly to for him to think that such a pitiful thing as his own life would be sufficient to do the job. His angel prevented a redundant crucifixion. It is indeed a wonderful life when we realize the full measure Christ's gift to man.
Some folks might look at this list and shake their heads at the inclusion of the Lampoon. Well, like it or not, the film shows us what commercialism does to one of Christendom's most sacred days. Clark wants to give his family the best he has. He also has relatives from H. E. double hockey-sticks. How do we deal with the less than desirable? What do we do when we are faced with great disappointment? What is really important to remember at this time? Clark and his family deal with these questions with something less than grace. But what is important is that he does realize that materialism is not the point of Christmas- even if he does it in his own hilarious way.
We have made these films a holiday tradition at our house (well, the kids don't get to watch Eddie in his leisure suit with something hanging down his leg just yet...) We laugh, we cry, we reflect on what really makes our journey in life so much more meaningful than the nihilistic world we live in would have it.
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