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6 I recently happened across a com- forting verse from The First Letter of Peter that seems fitting for a time like this. "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you. Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you. Be sober, be watchful" (1 Pe 5:6-8). There is a lot going on in our nation and world right now. Yet we will soon be in a liturgical season that calls us to rejoice with the angels who proclaimed to the shepherds, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people, for to you is born this day in the City of David a savior, who is Christ the Lord" (Lk 2:10-11). I am always grateful for the iconic recitation of this passage in A Charlie Brown Christmas. It reminds us to join the chorus of praise that those shepherds of old heard, "Glory to God in the Highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased." (Lk 2:14). That the essential Christmas message is given from the most unlikely, and yet wisest, char- acter of the show should not be lost on us. In his humility, clutching at his blue security blanket, Linus sees what no one else could and tells us what Christmas is all about. As I write this, I anticipate that peace and joy is not the feeling our nation or world will be feeling this Advent. We will undoubtedly still be roiling from this long and ardu- ous year, which has drawn us down into an abyss. Even if we know who won our election, the "results" are bound to divide further our nation, families, communities and parishes. The plague of COVID-19 and all the restrictions this pandemonium of fear CH R I STMA S BY DR. MICHEL THERRIEN, S.T.L, S.T.D, President and CEO of Preambula Group The Lord is never late; he shows up precisely when he means to. This Christmas will be no different. Finding Christmas Peace in a Time of Anxiety DECEMBER 2020 | DENVER CATHOLIC ⊲