The carol used to describe Christmas as the season to be jolly. But the commercial pollution that affected this basic and most important Christian season makes us say that it’s the season to do shopping.
The commercial “pollution” that explodes all around beginning November obscures the true meaning of Christ’s humble birth. We need to remember that Christ was born in a manger, in a sign of poverty. This jars with the way most of us spend Christmas. A couple of years ago Pope Benedict said that “In modern society, this time of year unfortunately suffers a type of commercial ‘pollution’ that risks altering its authentic spirit, which is characterised by reflection, solemnity and a joy that is not external but personal.”
The secret of the real Christmas illustrates the humility and merciful goodness of Christ, who for our sake ‘became poor although he was rich’. “His poverty enriches those who embrace it,” Pope Benedict said. Consequently the joy of the jolly season will be experienced only by those who, like the shepherds at Bethlehem, recognise the sign of “an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger”.
We have a duty to strengthen this basic belief of Christianity. Visible, even symbolic actions help. The making of the Nativity crib with its figurines of baby Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, angels etc is one visible way of helping people feel the real meaning of Christmas.
In Malta many still give this crib a prominent place in their homes and in their places of work. Such cribs also adorn many public places. Am I correct to note that this custom is not as popular as it used to be?
Among the most effective signs of the true Christmas spirit are the myriad occasions where money is collected for charity. The media do it and so do many organisations. Such initiatives are laudable indeed though these have been somewhat shadowed by the custom that gifts are showered on those who contribute money. Is this a sign of the spirit of commercialisation of Christmas or is it a minor infringement which gives great returns for the poor and those in some kind of suffering? Done in the right dose there is nothing wrong with the custom. Unfortunately it can be exaggerated.
Is there anyone entrepreneurial enough to copy the initiative that was taken in 2005 in the Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y. The Knights of Colombus commissioned the manufacture of thousands of green and red wristbands with the saying “Keep Christ in Christmas”.
Perhaps others can come up with other initiatives so that the commercial pollution of Christmas will be adequately counter-balanced by initiatives that help us understand and live the true spirit of Christmas.