Christmas 2017
This Christmas, let’s listen to the prayer of Rep. Christopher de Venecia (Fourth District, Pangasinan) written in memory of his sister KC, who perished in a fire 13 years ago. We heard KC’s mother, former Representative Gina de Venecia read Cris’ letter at a dinner she and her husband, former Speaker Joe de Venecia Jr. hosted for a “core group” of friends.
The first-time congressman, 31, is a former columnist in The Philippine
STAR. He is the founder of The Sandbox Collective, a Manila-based performing arts group committed to developing new, groundbreaking, and cutting-edge theatrical work. His concerns as a legislator are focused on the rehabilitation of drug dependents and education and culture.
The prayer is a supplication to the Lord to help us be instruments of peace – in the face of adversity, divisiveness, animosity, and overwhelming conflict and strife. Here are portions of Kris’ prayer:
“In the way that KC made the most of her life here on earth, allow us to do the same in the pursuit of our passions and our professions. Make us vessels that contain and radiate your guiding light – that even when it seems very difficult and dim, may our inner light, through Your divine engine, help illuminate the path.
“Make us instruments of peace as the nation pursues various reforms in security, poverty alleviation, and economic stability. Make us handmaids of truth in light of fake news that is destroying the foundations on which our society is built. Make us fight for truth, no matter the cost, because there is no grave consequence than the destruction of life and the decay of liberty and equality.
“Remind us Lord that though we have a propensity for worldly pursuits, we have a natural inclination towards goodness. Because while goodness seems these days, the exception rather than the norm, it is ultimately what will lead us to the truth.”
* * * Maybe I was too young, or have simply forgotten, Max Sucquit Jr., who just sent me his column written under Light of Life, that tells readers that Christmas is a paganistic practice. I submit that in Christendom, the celebration of Christmas has become commercialized. The merriment, the feasts and gift-buying and giving and the millions of electric bulbs creating spectacular views – make the holidays bright and carry us far from troubling realities. I love Christmas celebrations myself, but always, in my heart I believe in the birth of Jesus Christ.
But let’s listen to Max’s eloquent article in abbreviated form.
The origin of Christmas, writes Max, “cannot be traced to the first followers of Jesus of Nazareth, the acclaimed founder of the Christian faith; Jesus never celebrated his birthday, nor did his apostles and early disciples. Earnest students of the Bible and world history point out that celebrating birthdays was a pagan practice. The Bible mentioned only two birthday celebrations – those of Pharoah of Egypt and Herod of Judea, both non-worshippers of the true God.”
Historians confirm that Dec. 25 was already widely celebrated in ancient Rome as the birth of Mitras, a Roman deity, and the season also marked the return of the sun-god Saturn. Thus, writes Max, the date was celebrated as Saturnalia. In 335 Emperor Aurelian decreed that Dec. 25 be celebrated by all Roman subjects.
“Nominal Christians apparently adopted it as Jesus’ birthday, not only to comply with the royal decree but more so, to cloak the event with all the merriment and festivities of Saturnalia, enhancing its popular appeal, and called it ‘Christmas’. It might have been a case of ‘Christianizing’ a pagan festival.”
Thereafter, pagan Romans continued to celebrate Dec. 25 as part of Saturnalia, while nominal Christians could celebrate the date without qualms as ‘Christmas’.
“As history shows, the eventual mixup of pagan tradition and Christian beliefs led to the rise of a hybrid form of Christianity beginning in the fourth century after Christ – half Christian, half pagan. Such faith had been characterized by the adoption of largely pagan philosophies by the Christendom churches, notably the Roman Catholic and later, the Orthodox and Protestant churches. Those who desperately tried to adhere to the unadulterated faith as propounded by Jesus and the apostles might have been eclipsed, if not subdued altogether by the apostates.”
But there arose from time to time Christian minorities who had tried to “restore” the uncorrupted Christian faith. What they had in common, though, was their conviction that the Bible is the ultimate and authentic basis for true worship. Tradition, if ever, could not be held as credible. And whenever it comes in conflict with the Scriptures, what is written should prevail. Even Jesus castigated the Pharisees for upholding tradition over the holy writings.” As Matthew 15:6-9 goes, “So you have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition. You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you when he said . . . ‘It is in vain that they keep worshipping me, for they teach commands of men as doctrines. Accordingly, the apostle Paul warned Christians: “Do not go beyond the things that are written” (1 Corinthians 4:6).
What difference does it make, anyway, for one professing Christianity to celebrate Christmas or shun it as a matter of religious conviction, asks Max. Will matter to God and to Jesus Christ at all?
Interestingly, the Bible again addresses the matter in a rather straightforward way. “And you people will again certainly see (the distinction) between a righteous one and a wicked one, between one serving God and one who has not served him” (Malachi 3:18).
The “righteous” can be distinguished both in what he believes and how he acts in a world darkened by immorality, corruption, falsehood and godlessness; the righteous person is likened to a bright light that can be seen far and wide like a beacon.
Taking a firm stand on the side of truth, however unpopular, marks a true Christian, writes Max. “But what of those who prefer to take the line of least resistance, the popular but wrong side of the issue? The scriptures must be referring to them in those strong terms:
‘Woe to those who are saying that good is bad and bad is good, those who are putting darkness for light and light for darkness, those who are putting bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20)
“Enlightened conviction, not blind dogma passed down as tradition, is a mark of true Christianity. It is the test of prayerful study of God’s written word. Examined under the magnifying lens of scientific logic, Divine truth surfaces wonderfully like skim on milk, or even as gold purified with fire.”
Writes Max: “After centuries of darkness, the truth about Christmas has now come to light. Christendom may have cho- sen to perpetuate this pagan-inspired tradition. Yet enlightened Christians are determined to view it was Jesus himself did, when he said, “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32.). * * * To my friends and kin and readers, “paganistic” our consumer-oriented celebration of Christmas may be, I believe Jesus was born on Christmas Day – (oh what joy that brings us!) and I wish you a very merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year! * * * Email: dominitorrevillas@gmail.com