Right Thoughts on Christmas

Its four days before Christmas day here in the Philippines, but I still feel ambivalent about the occasion.

See, I know for a fact that many people would feel either worried, sad, angry, empty or stressed out during this one popular day-event. During this season, a lot of people are buried in the wrong notion and conception of Christmas. And wrong notion leads to bad attitude and wrong lifestyles.

Most often, this universal holiday is associated with receiving gifts, wearing new fancy clothes and apparels, expecting bonuses and incentives, putting up glittering decorations, rushing to the malls and department stores, and a lot of busyness to ride on the “fancy” or “myth” of the occasion.

I submit that this is entirely wrong. I believe there is more to the external part of Christmas which would should bring us reasons to celebrate.

Primarily, since childhood, I know that Christmas is all about God’s miracle. The Son of God was born in a manger, the worst or most humble place for a child delivery. He would be the savior of Israel. Unlike a Davidic Conqueror, he came in the most awesome way to bring His people back to their faith.

It is difficult for modern urban settlers like me to imagine what it feels to lodge in a manger. I know the manger is the parking area for horses in the old days. It must be a dirty place with a foul smell, considering all beasts of burdens of travellers are lodge there. It is for this reason, I feel pity to the streetchildren and the “Taong Grasa” who reside in the streets of Metro Manila day in and out. God must be with them, I believe, for they live in humble areas where nobody would want to stay.

I remember one theologian saying, “God must love the poor so much for He created so many of them.”

Recently, I heard Pastor Ed Lapiz over the radio preaching a good sermon about Christmas. In his sermon, the pastor gave a unique view of the essence of Christmas which is the complete submission of man to God’s will. This was displayed by Mary in agreeing to conceive the Lord Jesus. This was displayed by Joseph in allowing Mary to bear child who is not his own, despite they were already betrothed for marriage. Same thing with the magis who travelled a thousand miles to offer their gifts to the new born king.

For all these, I must add that Christmas is the revelation of God’s will and plan for salvation for mankind.
Jesus, the Son of God, had to be separated from God the Father in order to carry out a grand plan for eternal salvation of man. He had to leave heavens. His throne. He had to disassociate himself from the tri-unity person of God. In short, it was a big difficult sacrifice. Translated to us earthly mortals, the Christmas season, or Jesus birth, should be a time for giving away, and not receiving.

These should stop us and prompt us to think: How much have we known about God’s will in our life? How far have we submitted to His Will? And how much have we given for His Kingdom?

Candidly, I myself cannot answer in the affirmative all the foregoing questions. It is modest to state that I am still trying to figure out the answers. I am, after all, a work-in-progress just like all of you.