The run up to Christmas is always frenzied, hectic and pressurised. We are carried along on the tide of sending Christmas cards, hurrying from shop to shop with bulging bags laden with gifts for friends and family.
This is the picture many of us have in our minds when we hear the carol “And so this is Christmas.” But is it? One could say we have killed off the spirit of Christmas by an overload of activities. If Christmas is to survive the philosophy of “shop till you drop.” the frenzy of consumerism and the unending commercial exploitation, then we need to concentrate on the real meaning of Christmas “the reason for the season.”
Behind Christmas lies the Incarnation, the story of the Word of God becoming flesh in Jesus of Nazareth, to repair a broken world, by reconciling God with his people. St Paul says: “God was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.” Christmas is a time for reminding ourselves that God reached out to each one of us in Jesus. We are invited to respond by accepting God’s healing and reconciliation. Also, by getting in touch with our broken selves and repairing broken friendships with God, family and friends.
We can’t help noticing a series of paradoxes in our world today. We have more money, but less peace. More concern about our physical welfare and less about our spiritual needs. Rapid technological efficiency and progress, but less social involvement and more stress. The “shop till you drop” consumerism at Christmas is really a search and cry for a communion that is not to be found in the market place.
There is a need in all our lives to get in touch with the still centre of our being. Only when Christ is born in the heart and life of each person, can He be born in the heart of society. The purpose of Advent is to prepare us to receive Christ at Christmas, as Mary prepared for His coming for nine months.
The world is not waiting for Christ anymore. It is waiting for us, to be His hands, feet, voice and heart, so as to be a means of healing and reconciliation. In this way, we will continue the healing mission of Jesus and be participators rather than observers. Christ will be truly born again in us, to bring love, compassion, justice, peace and faith to birth in our world, our families, our relationships in society and in our Church.
Una Rutledge, RNDM.