‘Christmas without Jesus’

As one is carried away and sings or hums along “Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells rock, and…” in malls nowadays, discordant strains are sometimes heard, and seen! A child is throwing a tantrum with loud cries, or rolls on the floor, demanding that that toy or item be bought “NOW NA! as Christmas gift ko!.” Some parents give in after a sharp look, a pinch or two.

Beliefnet reprinted a 1987 article entitled To Celebrate: Reshaping Holidays & Rites of Passage. It writes that “the pervasive cultural Christmas ideology is not Christology – celebrating CHRIST’s coming as ‘good news to the poor’ – but Santology.

This creed is in the song ‘Santa Claus is Coming to Town.’ Like GOD, Santa knows all about us, and a day of judgment comes once a year where ‘good children (and adults)’ are rewarded, while the ‘bad’ are not. The truth is, gifts are not distributed based on who is ‘good/nice’ or ‘bad/naughty’ but on what people can afford or get credit to buy. Poor children learn they don’t receive gifts because they are bad, and the non-poor receive because they are good. Both notions, equally reprehensible are part of this culture’s Santa Claus theology.

This ‘Christmas Economy’ overshadows even Halloween, with the US Thanksgiving Day serving as a prelude to the biggest shopping weekend of the year. Consumption for its own sake, regardless of need is legitimated and encouraged. Without reluctance, consumerism exploits religious beliefs and deep emotions to persuade people to buy.”

To avoid this, Linda Mintle posted “to minimize amount of exposure of kids by changing television channels, and to click off ads in the internet; to regularly talk about the real meaning of the birth of JESUS supported by real life activities of preparing and taking food to the poor, or singing in nursing homes; and …do Advent candles.. , and develop traditions like going caroling.”

Newcelebration.com, and Joy of Responsible Gift-giving further gave tips to avoid commercialization of Christmas. Practical suggestions are to plan ahead to avoid stress in shopping; to make a cost analysis of past Christmas spending on presents, travel and food, and to give 25% to the needy; to avoid debt; and to work with social services agency to find and share gifts with a family in need.

In our turf, we need not look far. The need stares us in the face -here and now. The exodus of some people from their calamities-stricken places ended as they found homes with relatives and closed friends all over the country.

But still too many need the warmth of even only a “manger.”
That little hay on the manger could very well be some blankets to warm those still living in tents, or a candle/flashlight for a star to guide those in places with no electricity. We can be the shepherds who did not bother to look good but just simply knelt in worship with victims who survived. We can be one of the kings to offer JESUS prayers for the living, and especially for those who died unprepared. And be another king who will cover the distance to Bohol, Samar, or Cebu, and avoid passing through the malls. Be the 3rd king who will give out of the limelight. Better still, be a Mary or Joseph who fasted on sleep, comfort, and bare necessities. Best of all is to be the CHILD JESUS – accepting of all who come to HIM, unmindful of the poverty and dirt around HIM, content to be small, helpless, hidden.

In a sense, those who are suffering are privileged to be in the same situation as the Holy Family when JESUS was born, and in all HIS life. Our LORD and SAVIOUR JESUS was born poor, and died poor. A beggar even, as HE still begs for our love through HIS suffering people. A call to us to help others is likewise a privilege.

If the list is endless, so is GOD’s grace. The ‘LORD’s hand is not too short to save, nor HIS ear too dull to hear (Isaiah 59:1) our cry. Like Peter, when Cornelius met and falling at his feet worshiped him, one should say “I am only a mortal.” All good work is always from, by, through, for, with GOD.
To GOD be all glory!