For almost a thousand years, Christmas has been celebrated by christians in all parts of the world. The celebration and celebrants may differ in many ways but the day has the same meaning for all-it commemorates the birth of Christ, Christmas shows us a Jesus who is himself rich but became poor that he might enrich us with his poverty.
Today, facing our social reality especially the plight of our people including those who are working abroad, we are led to another view of Christmas. A discrimating Christmas. A Christmas which ignores the poverty of our people.
A true Christmas culture as I define it, should make others happy through the sharing of love and peace by challenging everybody to apply and live the message of the Child's birth in the manger-to be in solidarity with the poor and to challenge a corrupt social system based on power and domination. But in our harsh reality, Christmas is very different. A Christmas which is supposed to give face and strength to the poor (materially, financially and spiritually), is distorted by the culture of commercialism and materialism. Christmas is identified with money and the culture of the "haves". Evrybody is on the go, shopping for Christmas gifts, for decors and for table at Noche Buena and so on. Other sare busy preparing for vacations, outings and family reunions. Indeed, Christmas has become like a big birthday party minus the birthday celebrator!
Those who have less in life; those who are in the margins of society are the ones who are always left behind. Christmas for them has become a mere dream-a Christmas meant only for some.
Everybody hopes for a joyful Christmas and a good life too. Nobody likes to live in poverty. But, if we are going to look at the plight of our people, we will notice the gap between the rich and the poor has become more defined. For the rich, tghe big gap doesn't mean anything, but for the poor ot matters a lot. It is manifested by the fact that the poor see themselves as helpless victims of the social order because they who have nothing are even getting poorer while others who are in great abundance are even getting richer. It seems that society has a big bias against them.
But let us not forget that the very essence of Christmas. God became poor, for the society to recognize the struggle of our poor brothers and sisters. to give them a face and place in society.
As we celebrate Christmas, may we not just focus on the externals that accompany it, but also and more importantly on the true meaning of this season. Let us not forget our starving neighbors, the children begging in the streets, our tribal brothewrs and sisters knocking on our doors and many others. Giving them material gifts is good but offering them love and concern is better. Are you prepared to help them, not only by just giving them goods every Christmas but by living in solidarity with them everyday of your life?
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