A glance at media advertising would certainly suggest that the secular world has taken over Christmas to exploit it to the full for commercial purposes.
In his column in this year’s issue of the December Reader’s Digest, Nury Vittachi comments that Christmas is the season when “an obscene amount of food and drink” is consumed.
Even in these hard times, there must be some people who indulge in an orgy of shopping and who lavish expensive gifts on those who are already well-endowed with worldly goods; who go for the revelry promised in hotels large and small and for whom Christmas is one big spending spree and an endless round of partying.
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| Christmas is not all about lavish gifts and feasting.
Courtesy Getty images |
Christmas IS a happy time and if it seems that the accent is on the outward glamour and glitter that ignores the true meaning of the festival, those of us who call ourselves Christians need to stay focused on the One whose birthday we celebrate on this holy day. I received an e-card yesterday, reminding me that “Christ is the Gift”.
It was God Himself who came down in human form on that first Christmas, to show us how to live in love and harmony with our fellows. A carol by Christina Georgina Rossetti, comes to mind:
“Love came down at Christmas,
Love all lovely, love divine;
Love was born at Christmas,
Star and angels gave the sign.”
When children carry their gifts to the altar at Sunday School gift services this month, they learn that what the Babe of Bethlehem wants of us is to reflect even a little of His great love to all we meet on our way, especially to those who are most in need of it.
So, it is a matter for rejoicing when people busy themselves making hampers for folk whose food rations are normally very meagre; when they find time to take some Christmas cheer to those in prison; when they take gifts to a ward in Mulleriyawa; when young people who hold a weekly programme for street children, bring their lunch to the church hall on Christmas Day to share it with these children and their parents; when a lonely stranger is welcomed to be part of a family celebration; when IDPs feel warmed by little acts of kindness and of love performed by those who care; when Women’s Fellowships arrange for special meals at Elders Homes, complete with gifts and carol-singing.
But not just at Christmas. Like the doctor and his wife who, in response to a felt need expressed by their priest, started holding a fortnightly medical clinic in a village in the interior which had no medical facilities.
They have done this for 15 years now taking with them all the medication the village folk are likely to need until their next visit, and they have been joined by others.
You can imagine the kind of bonding that has taken place between the towns-people and the villagers.
Christ said, “In as much as you did it for the least of these, my brothers, you have done it for Me.”
The customary carol service held on Christmas Eve in our church is always a joyous event. Morning worship on Christmas Day, in a church overflowing with smiling people, has always given a fitting start to the happiest day of the year.
Christmas is perhaps the most appropriate time to lift a grateful heart to God – first of all for His supreme gift of Himself to us in Christ, and then for the rich blessings of human love expressed by family and friends, enriching all of life. My heart fills with joy as I look forward to December 25th when family members and friends will grace my table and there will be talk and laughter as we share a festive but simple meal.
I found these lines which express the essence of Christmas: “Every time someone reaches out to help another, THAT is Christmas; every time someone puts anger aside and strives for understanding, THAT is Christmas; every time people forget their differences and realize their love for each other, THAT is Christmas.”
May this Christmas bring us closer to the spirit of human understanding, closer to the blessing of enduring Peace, closer to the ideal of loving one another as Christ loves us.
“Love shall be our token,
Love be yours and love be mine,
Love to God and all the world,
Love for plea and gift and sign.” |
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