Fr Vincent Stapleton proposes that we campaign for change in the definition of the word Scrooge

Pictured above: Fr Vincent Stapleton

MOST ILLUSTRIOUS EBENEEZER SCROOGE

Dearest Scrooge,

I am writing to apologise to you for the grave miscarriage of justice by which your name has been slandered.

Only a few weeks ago, when I met someone whom I felt did not have the true spirit of Christmas, I said – don’t be such a scrooge. I now very much regret my ignorance. It is a travesty that your name, Scrooge, has the following entry in the dictionary – ‘someone who spends as little money as possible and is not generous.’

This letter has been far too long in coming. I am putting it on record so that your good name might be restored.

Why do we always jump to hasty conclusions and put our two feet in it? Why do we not withhold judgement until we hear the full story.

Of course, you did start the story in a bad state. You had a miserly spirit and money was your god. You treated your faithful workers, like Bob Cratchit, very poorly. You had frozen all avenues of joy out of your life. No time for family and feasting, no time for music, song or story. No time for God.

But if we fast forward to the end, we see you knocking on the door of Bob’s house with a marvellous turkey, beautiful treats, and a significant pay rise. But more than that, you brought the best version of yourself to the party, with the generosity that makes Christmas different from every other time of the year.

Your nephew Fred described it perfectly when he said – “I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time – apart from the veneration due its sacred name and origin – as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year; when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they were really fellow passengers to the grave and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.”

And so, I propose that we campaign for change in the definition of the word Scrooge. Henceforth, a scrooge shall be known as someone capable of recognising that their current trajectory is heading for destruction and finding in memory, imagination and conscience, the power to change their course for the better.

As the story shows, your trajectory was altered by the encounter with the spirits – the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future.

The ghost of the past was able to remind you how you gradually closed up your heart by a series of foolish choices for worldly things.

The Ghost of Christmas present showed you not just how isolated and lonely you had become – but in the figure of Tiny Tim – the spirit was revealing to you, the opportunity that is always there in the present moment – to reach out and do some good for one in need, if only we notice.

The ghost of Christmas future taught you, Scrooge, that our choices have consequences – that we are already building our futures by the things we prioritize and the attitudes we adopt. The good news that you taught us, Mr. Scrooge, is that change is possible.

There is a light that shines in the darkness, which the darkness cannot overcome. There is a love that took flesh in a lowly cattle shed who loves each person profoundly. And it is in coming together, in a spirit of generosity around a blazing fire that hardened hearts can be restored to their original design.

Accept this token from one who has finally looked forward to the finish of the story and hopes that we will all truly live happily ever after.

Amen

A native of Borrisoleigh, Fr Vincent Stapleton is curate in Thurles parish and is Rector of St Joseph and St Brigid’s Church, Bóthar na Naomh, Thurles.