CHRISTMAS
I would like to speak on Christmas with some philosophical background. It may sound a bit out of the way. But I believe these thoughts have emerged as an outcome of my reflection on the nativity of the Lord.
What of Christmas
The simple question that struck me while reflecting on Christmas was what is actually Christmas? In simple words, it is the celebration of the birthday of Christ. But, is it not obvious to celebrate the birthday of a person who died 2000 years ago! Does it make any sense to celebrate? Do we celebrate the birthday of great persons who left the earth? But then, are the Christians foolish to celebrate Christmas? As Christians and more so as religious, we are called to search wisdom in foolishness. We celebrate the birthday of Christ because we believe that he is alive. He is alive in our hearts through the Holy Eucharist and sacraments. Let us go a little further to erase the doubts by asking yet another question What led to Christmas? The scripture is very clear why Christ was born and what made him born. Let me answer this question from three points of view: (1) Christmas is Christmas because of the Love of the Father: God so loved the world that he sent his only son to give eternal life (Jn 3:16). In other words, to make us, the sinful human beings, into children of God as Jesus was. (2) Christmas happened because of the Humility of Mary: Let it be done to me according to your will Lk 1:38. (3) It is the condition of the human beings that made the birth of Jesus possible.
In this case, Christmas is not once a year business but it is everyday business. We should be able to celebrate Christmas everyday. I would like to narrate an incident. A Street children Director once wrote to benefactors: we celebrate Christmas whenever a boy knocks at our door asking for shelter, food and clothing.
Why of Christmas
Why do we celebrate Christmas? For mother Mary and Joseph, Christmas was paradoxical. It was not only painful but also a moment to rejoice. But for us, modern Christians, it has become celebrations and is limited to it. Thus, it is a call to transcend the festivities of the earthly world to discover the true joy of heavenly world.
Still, the inner meaning of Christmas is the birth of Christ which was not so for Mary or not even for Jesus himself. HE is being sent to the world, to give his life for the sins of humankind. If this is the case with Jesus, it must also be the same with us today. We are called to give, spend, and sacrifice our life for others and it is for others that we are here as Jesus was and is.
Christmas – Summation of Evangelical Counsels
Does Christmas bear witness to the Evangelical Counsels? I think, it is very much true that Christmas is the convergence of Obedience, Poverty and Chastity if we look at them differently as will, generosity and love.
Christmas as a Sign of Obedience
Christmas as an event took place because of the docility of Mother Mary when she said, “Be it done to me according to your will’. It is the acceptance of Mary that led to Christmas. What does it indicate? As Mary obeyed the will of God, Christmas invites everyone of us to obey not simply but to accept happily and cheerfully the demands of obedience and to give our self wholly, especially our time, energy, talents and everything.
Christmas as a Sign of Poverty
God did not choose a palace for his son to be born but a manger amidst the animals. It also makes us remember that he was born in a manger because people refused him a place in their own house. What does it indicate? It indicates not so much the material poverty, but the rigidness of heart of human being which is the poverty of heart. For us, Christmas is a call to make the heart rich to make it abode of Jesus. This is not a simple task but difficult and requires everyday attention. This can be nurtured only by the Holy Eucharist and sacraments, personal prayer, and other moments of prayer.
Christmas as a sign of Chastity
It is the love of the Father towards the humankind that made Jesus come into the world. Chastity is love of equilibrium towards all. What does it show? Christmas should be a method of love and not for this or that human being but for all equally. Love erases unwanted and indifference leading to the manufacture of concern and care for each other.
I would like to conclude my reflection by asking yet another question: Am I able to give birth to Christ? What does this mean? It is not so much a physical birth but the capacity to reflect Jesus in my self to others. If we are not able to reflect Jesus through our actions, words and behaviour, then Christmas does not make any sense. It passes by like any other Christmas. But, let us make this Christmas a true Christmas by being reflections of Jesus to our brothers and sisters not only on the day of Christmas but everyday of our life.
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