Meaning of Christmas

WE FILIPINOS are widely known for our religiosity and generosity, most especially during the Christmas season as we commemorate the birth of our savior, Jesus Christ. Included are some members of the Protestant churches who may be celebrating the nativity of Christ as well.

It has long been our tradition, if not a lifetime commitment and devotion to the Lord to attend the nine-day dawn mass commonly known as misa de gallo. We also visit the imprisoned and the sick and give gifts to the underprivileged.

We can feel that Christmas is in the air when we see a group of happy people going house to house caroling in the middle of the night. When we hear Christmas songs played and on radio and in houses and malls. When we see attractive Christmas decorations displayed in conspicuous places in the city. When we attend a joyful gathering of friends and acquaintances. All of these are but a manifestation of the age-old ritual of reminiscing the first coming of the Lord.

But are we really in the right direction in celebrating Christmas and in reminiscing the birthday of our Lord Jesus? Are we celebrating it with too much feasting and merrymaking while our poor neighbors are suffering from hunger and wallowing in sadness?

I can't help putting into words what my friends had told me when I was conversing with them about Christmas. It went like this:

"Christmas is best celebrated if you have money in your pocket, not really a big amount but just enough for you to buy your personal needs. Fortunate are the rich because they have money to spend this Christmas. But for us the poor ones, we don't have enough money to buy something. We have a blue Christmas, so to speak."

Upon hearing those words, only then did I realize the financial needs of some of our poor neighbors whose miserable state in life necessitates consolation and relief from other individuals, those whom God blessed financially.

For me, the real meaning of Christmas is not about how much money we have deposited in the bank and how abundant we are in the accumulation of material things. Rather, it is through our unselfish attitude of sharing a small percentage of our wealth to those who are in need.

We are not the ultimate owners of many things in this world. God merely makes us the caretakers. And it is a blessing from God if we are given and entrusted with worldly wealth more than we could imagine. But worldly wealth is nothing if we close our eyes from lending a helping hand to those who lack the necessities of life.

This Christmas, God asked us to share the surplus of our wealth to others if there be any.

Just remember the words of God as narrated by St. Paul: "It is more blessed to give than to receive." (Acts 20:35)

If we remain unmindful and insensitive to the needs of our poor neighbors, if we remain deaf and blind to their cry for help, then we are no more than hypocrites in the practice of our Faith. True followers of Christ are people of good will. They are not greedy and lovers of worldly goods. They are more than willing and determined to do the extraordinary things towards their fellowmen in time of extreme need.

They give and do not expect something in return.- from Joselito S. Berdin of Lapu-Lapu City