Search
Christmas
-
December 24, 2018Gospel Tips to Celebrate Christmas
Rejoice and be glad. In the gospel narrative of the events surrounding Christ’s incarnation and birth, happiness is an essential part. Joyful words are included in the angel’s greeting to Mary “Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.” (Luke 1:28). Different expressions of joy appear also in the announcement of John the Baptist’s birth and in his father’s (Zechariah) canticle, known as the Benedictus. (Luke 1:67-79) The night Jesus was born, an angel greeted the shepherds near Bethlehem with expressions of great joy because the newborn king will be the salvation for all the people (Luke 2:11), and ended his joyful message in an exultant cry of joy to which no celestial creature could resist to be part of. So, joined by the celestial choir, all together chanted: “Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth to those on whom his favor rests.” (Luke 2:14)
The reason for such a joy was perfectly explained by Mary in her chant while visiting Elisabeth: “My spirit rejoices in God my savior”… because “He has shown might with his arm, dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart. He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones but lifted up the lowly. The hungry he has filled with good things; the rich he has sent away empty. He has helped Israel his servant, remembering his mercy,” (Luke 1:47,49-54). In other words, the reversal of human fortunes, promised since the Old Testament, is now fulfilled. A new beginning for the human race has started. All the injustice, disparities, segregations, and human hardness to love, rooted in our hearts since Adam’s sin, that no king had ever been able to overcome, now will start to change because “God’s Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory.” (John 1:14; Matthew 1:23)
However, before being able to plunge into the same joyful mind of the angels, you might still have a serious question to ask: how could this promised Christmas miracle happen in today’s world if more than half of the human race is still living in poverty and suffer all its consequences? How can we believe in love and its promises if wars, division, injustices, abuses and mistreatment are present even among family members? The answer to these questions could be found by listening carefully to angel Gabriel’s response, first to Zechariah and after to Mary when both of them questioned God’s plans to fulfill His promises: “Do not be afraid” (Luke 1:13,30), “for nothing will be impossible for God.” Then Mary says: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:37-38) In other words, what Luke wants to explain is that the changes you expect for the messianic era will not happen without your participation. Yes, you have first to let God take possession of your being. Then you will be amazed at how many great things God can do for others with your nothingness.
Take the risk to believe and follow the star: Using the image of three wise men from pagans and foreign countries looking for the new born king, Matthew’s Gospel compares the incredulity of the Jews with the faithfulness of the large communities of pagans who recognized in Jesus the savior king announced by the prophets. Following his star means recognizing his absolute royalty. In this beautiful narrative, the message is clear: the wise men took the risk to believe and, as Mary, were not disappointed: “When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.” (Matthew 2:10) This is then our Christmas possibility. If today you take the risk to believe that the humble son of Mary and Joseph is the savior King, God, who never disappoints a humbled heart, the power of his Spirit will start to embody life in your mind, body and soul. Then, as thousands of witness did in the past, you will join the caravan of those who every Christmas are looking for the best ways to spend their new life, talents and goods serving God in the poor, the lonely and all the excluded in our society. Moved by your happiness and by the satisfaction of those you have loved, it is probable also that others will try to believe. In consequence, thousands of donations will arrive to the local churches and institutions serving those in need. Widows, orphans, and single mothers will be surrounded by the warmth, care and company of those experiencing the Christmas miracle, and in this way, as promised by angel Gabriel, and proclaimed by John in his gospel, the light will overcome the darkness. (John 1:5)
Look for the angel’s sign: If for any reason the joyful announcements of Gabriel have not reached you, and you missed the contagious faith and generosity of the people of good will that are following the star, the angel’s sign given to the shepherds near Bethlehem could still save your Christmas experience. He said: “… this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:13) Choosing to become a fragile baby, born in the peripheries where life is always at risk, God revealed to us the secret map to Christmas’ happiness: If you want to really find Christ and become part of his kingdom, make the poor and needy your priority. Then, do what the shepherds did after finding Baby Jesus: “The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.” (Luke 2:20)
And finally, if you want to have a conclusive evaluation on how biblical your Christmas celebration could be, look at this last tip: “When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.” (Luke 14:13-14)
Dr. Dora Tobar is the Manager of Family Life and Hispanic Ministry for the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana.
