Editorial

So this is Christmas!

The mystery of Christ's entry into the history of humanity never fails to generate a "good feel" factor when people seem to brighten up and cherish the reality of meeting up and celebrating.

Notwithstanding the hardnosed economic realities of a secular culture that squeezes out as much monetary gain as possible out of every event in the calendar, Christmas does not easily lose its magic. We cannot escape the gift of Christ who came to liberate us. It is a time for transformation, to accept the message of Christmas which, in a nutshell, is peace, that interior tranquillity that can only be grasped by those with goodwill.

Now as never before, our society, our country and the wider world yearns for peace that seems more elusive than ever. Despite the improvement in our general well-being, the future looks as challenging as ever. Global warming, terrorism, feelings of insecurity, increasing competitiveness and all the vicissitudes dog our earthly footsteps.

Yet, the spirit of Christmas is as fresh as ever. Each one of us, according to one's abilities and limitations, can make a difference. It is a spirit that is renewed and upheld every year, reinforced by the festive atmosphere, the decorations, the religious services and the uplifting caroling. However, the Christmas spirit has to be nurtured and cultivated to sustain us throughout the year.

Peace will elude the lazy, the pessimists, the cynics and the fainthearted. True peace demands a constant striving to wish the welfare of one's neighbour and to acknowledge that no man is an island. Environmental degradation, injustice and poverty, in whatever degree, are an affront to our egoism, indifference and complacency.

The spirit of Christmas tells us that the world can and should be a better place. It is not just a shallow feeling of vague compassion and concern for the adversity and hardships suffered by so many both here and abroad. Building peace starts with our own efforts, with the recognition that negative aspects of our lifestyle and attitudes also severely hurt the rights and prospects of the weaker members of society.

Too often, there is a rift between our professed belief and our behaviour in real life. Christmas should not be restricted to self indulgence and family celebrations. We should not persist in ignoring the problems in our midst and remain oblivious to the global crises that cry out for our attention.

By its very nature, the peace of Christmas is inclusive and is in communion with the wider neighbourhood and the rest of the world. It is hypocritical to try to grab as much as possible for ourselves and our families throughout the year and then redeem our conscience with a bit of token almsgiving at Christmas time.

The spirit of Christmas calls us to abandon the natural instincts of greed and narrow, shortsighted self interest, to share and not to hoard, to be generous with the giving of ourselves, our time and our resources, and to respect nature and to live in such a way that human dignity is honoured so that even others may reach their full human and God-given potential.

Christmas is an invitation to conversion so that the gift of peace can be realised more and more in fractured families and communities. Let us take the plunge and embrace the Christmas spirit that goes beyond the glitter and the entertainment and live up to the beautiful message of real joy to the world.