This again is not a question of prohibitions, but of priorities. Have your holiday spiced latte. Put dozens of giant inflatable lawn ornaments in your yard like my neighbor. Buy a bunch of gifts for yourself and your loved ones.  But make sure you don’t buy into what you are buying, don’t live your life for them, for as Jesus assures us in our Advent readings, “one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.”  Live your life for what is permanent, says Jesus, not just for passing pleasures. Keep first things first and second things second.  Make sure Christmas is first and foremost, for Christ.