Christmas 2024: Christmas, celebrated on December 24 and 25, is a joyous occasion that transcends cultures and borders, uniting people in a spirit of love, peace, and generosity. This annual celebration marks the birth of Jesus Christ, a momentous event in Christian tradition that carries profound spiritual significance. Over time, Christmas has evolved into a global festival cherished for its warmth, festivities, and the message of hope it brings to all. As we prepare for Christmas 2024, the holiday continues to inspire us to embrace the values of compassion, togetherness, and reflection on the deeper meaning behind the celebrations.
A Universal Celebration of Joy
Christmas season is a moment of joy for all. Practically the Christmas has become a celebration for everyone in the world. Without any distinction, all enjoy this season of holidays. The warmth that brings the Christmas during this chilled winter is a moment of joy for all to celebrate it, in their own way, to share their happiness with friends and family. The thought of Christmas season fills peace in the heart of everyone. As I have seen, everyone loves this season for various reasons. The entire world indulges into a spirit of celebration, may be without even knowing the real meaning and the purpose of Christmas.
Diverse Perspectives on Christmas
What is Christmas? - Even though Christmas has only one and true definition, the modern world seems to present us various understandings or perspectives of Christmas. A child might say that the Christmas is all about gifts. As he or she is eagerly waiting to receive various gifts from the beloved ones, the love of Christmas becomes for the love of gifts. A teenager might find that the Christmas is all about holidays or a time to relax from heavy scheduled studies and activities. A youth might say that Christmas is all about the parties and celebrations or a time to get away with friends to enjoy the joyful days with them. And an adult might say that it is all about the feasts. Preparing at this season with variety of food and drinks to share with the family and friends, thus to relax oneself with material aspects.
The Commercialization of Christmas
Moreover, some businessmen might try to fatten their purse during this Christmas season and for them, Christmas is all about business. For the year ending sales, there are promotions and offerings during this season so that they can gain their benefits through their business. I think, at late, the Christmas has become a commercial event rather than what it really meant to be. The new generations have centralized the Christmas to a coming of Santa Claus with gifts and feasts. They are often found in shopping malls and markets. Their Christmas is buying and selling, outing and relaxing, feasting and partying etc. Are all these Christmas? How do we explain the real meaning of Christmas to our family and friends?
The Spiritual Essence of Christmas
Christmas had a beginning and it cannot be compared with gifts and feasts or business and Santa Claus. Christmas is a spiritual celebration that brings joy, peace and love to the hearts of one who has prepared well to receive them. It is the great mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God among us, the coming of Jesus Christ to this world by assuming the human conditions and the humbling of the Divine as one among us. This is what the Christmas is and this is what we are called to celebrate during the Christmas. Why He had to do so?
The Divine Purpose Behind Christmas
After the creation, according to the Holy Scripture, God saw that the humankind was not fulfilling the wish and purpose of the creation. In those days, God found a faithful man called Noah. God planned to wash away the entire creation to purify the humankind. Thus He brought about the flood. But God himself repented after this event and promised not to punish the humankind anymore in such a way. Since then God had Patriarchs and Prophets to share His message to the people. But the people were obstinate and hard-hearted and did not accept the invitation of God to change the way of life. God in his goodness wanted to give another opportunity to the world to save them from the evil. So He sent His only Son among us, to teach us the purpose and the meaning of true life in this world and in the next. Thus the Christmas is the coming of Christ to the world, to set us free from the clutches of evil. Son of God willed to be born among us to be our savior. This is what the incarnation. We are called to meditate upon and live up to this mystery during the Christmas season.
Embracing the True Spirit of Christmas
Again, it’s not enough to know what the Christmas is, but one has to prepare to live for the same. One has to undergo the feelings of Joseph and Mary. They struggled and suffered to have a place to give birth to their first-born. As Joseph and Mary accepted to fulfill the will of God in them, this Christmas season should be a time to understand the purpose of our life in this world and to live up to it. By doing so, we gain more graces and blessings, because we do fulfill the will of God in us.
Beyond Historical Knowledge to Genuine Celebration
Knowing the history of Christmas alone will not help us to celebrate it in its proper way. By remembering that Christmas is the coming of Jesus, we might celebrate it with lots of pomp and show but without Jesus being part of it. We might illuminate the house with lots of lights but our hearts are as cold as ever and not illuminated with the true LIGHT of Jesus Christ. We might be buying lots of gifts and sharing with everyone, but may have nothing to share with Jesus; nor material and not even spiritual. We might be preparing lots of food and feasts to invite our families and friends, but can Jesus really be part of our celebrations? Can our Christmas feast be up to the style of a spiritual celebration, wherein Jesus, Mary and Joseph can be part of it? When the Christmas invites us for a SPIRITUAL journey, we might make a journey with lots of SPIRITS! When the Christmas invites us for the unity of family and friends might end up in jealousy and envy for material things. When the Christmas brings us joy peace and love, we might be promoting fanaticism and evilness.
Preparing a Spiritual Crib for Jesus
As the world prepares the Christmas Crib for the baby Jesus, are we preparing a crib within our heart with a spiritual preparation to invite Jesus to our hearts? May this Christmas be, more of a spiritual journey that allows our hearts to open its doors to receive Jesus worthily. Let me wish you all a peaceful and joy-filled Christmas! - Merry Christmas! 2024