Christmas is that part of the year when everyone, particularly those far away, want to be at home for celebration. They are the elders who miss the most their near and dear ones and wait with eager eyes to meet them. Their joy heightens when they learn: I’ll be home for Christmas, and preparations begin to welcome the absent ones return home. With hugs and embraces they fall in each other’s arms and tears of joy roll on their cheeks with kisses and exchange of pleasantries. But the unlucky ones are those who cannot make it home for Christmas, yet will keep in touch with Christmas cards, on Skype, WhatsApp or selfies in keeping with the present day trend.
Christmas is God’s love for mankind. He humbled himself to be amongst man and became a human being in the person of Jesus that we may know and accept him. It is this joy of the Father, the Christian communities celebrate by observing Christmas the birthday of Jesus born in a lowly stable in Bethlehem who identifies himself with the poor, the weak, the suppressed, the marginalised and the deprived.
Our life on earth is a spiritual journey. In this context, the Church urges the devotees to prepare themselves spiritually to celebrate Christmas. The salvation for mankind from the bondage of sin came through Jesus who sacrificed himself on the cross. During the week preceding Christmas, Christians are therefore seen engrossed in the follow up of the teachings of the church.
Jesus is the joy to the world. This is reflected in the festivity of the season. It is the lady of the house seen busy running up and down planning for the celebration, keeping the house ready for relatives, friends and at times unexpected guests who pop in to visit. As one housewife puts it in the right spirit: Hea disani maka kaim sanginakai( do not ask me for any favours these days). How true !
As we get set for Christmas, preparing the traditional Christmas sweets, planning the family lunch, renting the atmosphere with Christmas carols like: I’ll be home for Christmas, I’ll have a blue Christmas, Jingle Bells and much more, let us know, more than celebration, Christmas is reaching out in times of need, being with the lonely, sharing with the unfortunates; for at Christmas love is born unto us that we may accept one another as human beings and live in love, peace and brotherhood.
