In Praise of Christmas

It’s incredible to behold what a profound impact the Christmas season has on most people where it is celebrated. A supernatural infusion of grace and kindness spontaneously bubbles up in the otherwise drab ordinariness of life. At Christmas gatherings we find work colleagues letting down their guards and genuinely connecting with each other. It’s like magic. Out of the depth of our hearts we let rise to the surface all the good thoughts and moments we appreciate about each other. By some miracle we suddenly see the priceless value of the human beings in our lives. 

People suddenly warm up to each other at Christmas

Neighbours are a welcome sight and we feel almost reckless abandon to take time to converse and share drinks. We give ourselves the privilege of stopping the tasks that get in the way of fellowship. Past favours are remembered and we seek ways to be a blessing to one another. Family is seen again for the cherished gift it is. The joy of belonging with one’s relatives returns with passion, and it seems a magic wand has waved away all the past grievances - at least enough to put them aside for this special time. 

Yet Christmas is not without its pain. It makes sense: since it calls for all the love and goodness in humanity, it is utterly horrible to experience the opposite. Somehow the magic doesn’t touch all of us, and to those who continue in the ugliness of exclusion, meanness, and petty resentment, their victims experience the anguish of unrequited love. For this brief time we suddenly are raised to likeness of God in seeing the infinite worth of each precious soul. To experience the opposite is to experience evil and despise it to the depths of our hearts. For this brief time, we grieve with God at the sight of evil.

How can we explain this sudden rise to sublime heights of lovingkindness? Surely the Spirit of God becomes manifest. We can easily get distracted by the extra chores of cooking, decorating, dressing up and shopping. We can become anxious, upset, impatient and greedy. Yet beneath it all we are moving towards the ideal to which Christmas points. We celebrate the day God visited humankind to bring peace and goodwill to us - the way God always wanted it. It’s a day when Jesus took it upon himself to rescue us and show the way of grace of truth that can save us from ourselves. He demonstrated the ultimate act of love: in perfect humility he became a poor child in an occupied land. 

Far from any pagan festival that seeks to curry favour from a ungodly cosmic power, Christmas is a time to remember that God visited us in love, and still waits for hearts to turn to Him. Those who embrace the message know we are made in His image and ultimately our true identity is connected to Him. Everyone is invited, and so we are reminded that we all belong to each other. May the spirit of Christmas burn deeply within you this season.

The angels herald the birth of God's son, Jesus

PS: And then there are the heart-warming traditions. Even in the southern hemisphere, houses and streets are adorned with strings of glowing bulbs, with some neighbourhoods transformed into late-night tourist attractions. In the northern hemisphere, the darkest nights of the year beckons us outdoors and bring delight to the eyes each evening. Sparkling tinsel and creative displays of red and green decorate the streets and the indoors of shopping malls and homes. The beautiful Christmas hymns along with cheerful songs of the season are heard everywhere, and people gather just to sing for the joy of it. Permission is granted to shop for all the most delicious foods, and feasting upon culinary delights are shared everywhere with generosity and glee.