The first question that comes to mind when I began my preparations for the Christmas feast is: am I celebrating a Christian Christmas? Do I know what the essence of the Christmas feast is, and do I know what Christmas means at all?
When we look around us, we most probably do not find a lot of things to help us find answers to these questions, the reasons being that Christmas is no longer what it used to be. In society we hear a lot about "the abuse of children", the abuse of this and the abuse of that. But we rarely hear of the "abuse of Christmas".
Christmas has been abused and is being abused by businessmen, by the "people who have power", by those who have influence in society, by those who want to "use" Christmas for their particular intentions. The reason is mostly money and rarely anything else. What am I doing to bring to an end this "abuse" of Christmas?
First of all, it helps to know that "Jesus is the Reason for this Season". Second, it is up to us as Christians to buy Christmas cards which feature the word "Christmas" on them and show Baby Jesus and the Holy Family. It is up to us to wish not just "a happy Christmas" but also "a holy Christmas", a Christmas which we celebrate by participating in the Christmas liturgy, preferably the Midnight Mass which the Church gives us, and also to prepare spiritually for the Christmas feast by seeing where I am with God, with the community and with myself. The holy sacrament of reconciliation is certainly the best way how to prepare to celebrate the birth of Baby Jesus with a clean heart and with an awaiting soul.
I would like to end this meditation by quoting another meditation, one written by Swiss theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar about Christmas: "In order that he shall find God, the Christian is placed on the streets of the world, sent to his manacled and poor brethren, to all who suffer, hunger and thirst; to all who are naked, sick and in prison. From henceforth this is his place; he must identify with them all. This is the great joy that is proclaimed to him today, for it is the same way that God sent a Saviour to save us. We ourselves may be poor and in bondage too, in need of liberation; yet at the same time all of us who have been given a share in the joy of deliverance are sent to be companions of those who are poor and in bondage.
What can my pitiful mission achieve, this drop of water in the white-hot furnace? What is the point of my efforts, my dedication, my sacrifice, my pleading to God for a world that is resolved to perish? ... "Be not afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy. This day is born the Saviour."
"Be not afraid" says the angel. Let us ponder on this phrase, let us ask God to fill us with his Holy Spirit so that all signs of fear may disappear and then bring the joy of Christmas to all those who are expecting his second coming in glory and victory of all evil and sin.
A happy and holy Christmas to all! May God bless you and may Mary, the Mother of Jesus, point you towards her Son, Our Lord and Saviour.