In many Asian cities, Christmas means more lights and special offers in the stores. Cultural and commercial symbols get confused with truly Christian ones. The meaning of the holy season is easily missed and is a great loss, for the claim that God entered our history in this way sets Christianity apart from all other religious traditions. God became one with us in order to show us what it means to be truly human.
For Christians, Christmas is the celebration of God’s entering into history as a vulnerable baby born to a poor, teenage mother outside a remote village. Mary was homeless at the time. Her people were oppressed by an occupying power. The local political authority was so threatened by announcements of the baby’s arrival that he killed countless children in a vain attempt to destroy the child, forcing Mary and her husband Joseph to take the boy and escape as refugees.
The Incarnation came to our poorest places. Jesus was born poor. He later announced his mission as “bringing good news to the poor”, and then tells us that how we treat “the least of these” is his measure of how we treat him and how he will judge us when our time comes for that.
Christmas gives a message that Jesus’ arrival will mean “peace on earth, good will towards all people”. He is “the mighty God, the everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace”. Jesus asks his disciples to turn the other cheek, practise humility, walk the extra mile, put away their swords, and love their neighbours, even their enemies. Christ will end our conflictive ways and bring reconciliation to God, to one another and to all creation. Christmas promises peace and hope to our troubled world.
Christmas announces the birth of Jesus to a world of poverty, pain, and sin, and offers the hope of salvation and justice. In a world that steadily promotes consumerism, defends wealth and power, and belittles efforts to overcome poverty, this is a revolutionary message.
Christmas echoes the Virgin Mary’s song in praise of her baby boy: “He has brought the mighty down from their thrones, and lifted the lowly, he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich empty away.”
As we gather with our family and friends to celebrate Christmas, may we reflect on what Christmas truly means for us. May our love and gratitude for our Lord at Christmas bring us to seek him in new and unexpected places.
Thank you for all that you do with the Jesuit Conference of Asia Pacific to build our common spirit and to fulfil our shared mission.
Every blessing and good wish at Christmas,
Mark Raper SJ President December 20, 2011Nativity scene by Elvi C. Tamayo