By Rev. Canon David B. Tabo-oy
The Christmas story as recorded in the Gospel of Luke.
“So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem, the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.
“And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.’
“Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests.’
“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” – Luke 2:4-19.
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It is the time of the year again that happy occasions are happening all around us. It is the holiday seasons, and we are in the middle of it with the celebration of the Christmas season. This year the Christmas season starts this coming Monday and ends on 6th of January next year, the twelve days of Christmas. But to some Filipinos it started with the onset of the ‘ber’ months, hence, September. This could be attributed to the commercialization of Christmas wherein business capitalized on the merry-making and buying-giving mode of people that have become associated with Christmas. The longer the days to celebrate the more the cash register is filled. Scholars today believe that Christmas is a combination of several different holidays morphed together. The modern-day interpretation of Christmas is that it is a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, but many aspects of Christmas today were celebrated long before Jesus was even born. Beyond its religious roots, Christmas has evolved into a widely celebrated cultural and festive occasion in many parts of the world. It often involves exchanging gifts, spending time with family and friends, decorating homes with festive ornaments, and partaking in special meals and traditions.
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The Christmas season, especially in the West, is a mix of pre-Christian, Christian, and secular traditions. What’s interesting is the etymology of the word Christmas. It literally means Christian Mass. It’s a shortened form of Christ’s Mass. Undoubtedly, Christmas is one if not the most important Christian and cultural holidays of the year, but what is the true meaning of Christmas? Is it the gifts? Is it the annual economic boost? For Christians, the true meaning of Christmas is the celebration of the Savior, Jesus Christ. So as not to lose the true meaning of Christmas, it is good to go back to the story as told by the evangelists and the above verses is Luke’s account of that first Christmas day. Christmas is the day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. On this holiday, we tend to wish our friends and family happiness, love, kindness, peace, and prosperity. Different people celebrate it in different ways. Some people put up lights while others sing carols, decorate their homes, or share gifts—or perhaps some combination of all of the above.
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The meaning of Christmas can vary for different people and cultures, but it is generally celebrated as a Christian holiday that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ. For Christians, Christmas is a time to reflect on the significance of Jesus’ birth, emphasizing themes of love, peace, and goodwill toward all.
Christmas is a time of spiritual reflection on the important foundations of the Christian faith. To over emphasize, It’s also a celebration. It’s when Christians celebrate God’s love for the world through the birth of the Christ child: Jesus. The Bible tells of his birth hundreds of years before, fulfilling prophecies. But the realization of the prophesied birth came with a young woman’s obedience to the will of God recorded in the Gospel of Luke 1:38, “And Mary said, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”
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Mary accepted the responsibility of bearing the Christ without any hesitation or conditions. During Mary’s time and culture accepting such responsibility will have a grave consequence… even capital punishment by stoning! This is one lesson that we often miss in the celebration of Christmas: Courageous obedience and full submission to God’s will and plan. As believers we are expected to imitate Mary’s courage and obedience to God’s plan and will for her. Assuredly, to follow this path we shall not be alone even if we are endlessly faced with seemingly insurmountable odds. Christmas is the promise that we are not alone in our struggles. Christ did not remove himself from the brokenness of our human condition but experienced our poverty. From his birth in a stable as one who was homeless to his death to the cross as a common criminal, Jesus always identified with the spiritually, physically, and materially poor of this world.
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The child who drew his first breath on a covering of straw in an animal shed in Bethlehem was the Christ of Calvary who gave his life that we might have everlasting happiness. Many of us are disappointed because in our search we tend to look for God in the spectacular, but Christmas story tells that God is to be found right before our eyes in the ordinary, in the people and the situations we take for granted. Above all, we can experience his presence in our hearts, provided we make room for him by removing the barriers and obstacles that get in his way. God often visits us but most of the time we are not at home. If the glory of God that comes to us as a child in the manger is not to be lost, we must ask the Lord for the grace in this short life of ours to do things his way. By softening our hearts and sharing what we have with the poor and the needy we lessen the gap between what we are and what we should be.
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To add more seasoning to our understanding, reflection, and celebration of the Christmas season, let me share again a familiar story about one Christmas in the life of an elderly, “The Cobbler and His Guest.”
Long ago there lived in the city of Marseilles an old shoemaker, loved and honored by all his neighbors, who affectionately called him “Father Martin.” One Christmas Eve he sat alone in his little shop, reading of the visit of the wise men to the infant Jesus, and of the gifts they brought. He said to himself, “If tomorrow were the first Christmas, and if Jesus were to be born in Marseilles this night, I know what I would give Him!” He arose and took from a shelf two little shoes of softest snow-white leather, with bright silver buckles, “I would give Him these, my finest work. How pleased His mother would be! But I’m a foolish old man,” he thought, smiling. “The Master has no need for my poor gifts.”
Replacing the shoes, he blew out the candle, and retired to rest. Hardly had he closed his eyes, it seemed, when he heard a voice call his name, “Martin!” Intuitively, he felt aware of the identity of the speaker. “Martin, you have longed to see Me. Tomorrow I shall pass by your window. If you see Me and bid Me enter, I shall be your guest and sit at your table.”
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He did not sleep that night for joy. Before it was yet dawn he arose and tidied up his little shop. He spread fresh sand on the floor, and wreathed green bows of fir along the rafters. On the table he placed a loaf of white bread, a jar of honey, and a pitcher of milk; and over the fire he hung a hot drink. His simple preparations were complete. When all was in readiness, he took up his vigil at the window. He was sure he would know the Master. As he watched the driving sleet and rain in the cold, deserted street, he thought of the joy that would be his when he sat down and broke bread with his Guest.
Presently he saw an old street sweeper pass by, blowing upon his thin, gnarled hands to warm them. “Poor fellow! He must be half-frozen,” thought Martin. Opening the door, he called out to him, “Come in, my friend, and warm yourself, and drink something hot.” No further urging was needed, and the man gratefully accepted the invitation.
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An hour passed, and Martin next saw a poor, miserably clothed woman carrying a baby. She paused, wearily, to rest in the shelter of his doorway. Quickly he flung open the door. “Come in and warm while you rest,” he said to her. “You are not well?” he asked. “I am going to the hospital. I hope they will take me in, and my baby,” she explained. “My husband is at sea, and I am ill, without a soul to whom I can go.” “Poor child!” cried the old man. “You must eat something while you are getting warm. Let me give a cup of milk to the little one. Ah! What a bright, pretty little fellow he is! Why, you have no shoes on him!” “I have no shoes for him,” sighed the mother. “Then he shall have this lovely pair I finished yesterday.” And Martin took down the soft little snow-white shoes he had looked at the evening before, and slipped them on the child’s feet. They fit perfectly. And shortly the young mother went her way full of gratitude, and Martin went back to his post at the window.
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Hour after hour went by, and many needy souls shared the meager hospitality of the old cobbler, but the expected Guest did not appear. At last, when night had fallen, Father Martin retired to his cot with a heavy heart. “It was only a dream,” he sighed. “I did hope and believe, but He has not come.”
Suddenly, so it seemed to his weary eyes, the room was flooded with a glorious light; and to the cobbler’s astonished vision there appeared before him, one by one, the poor street sweeper, the sick mother and her baby, and all the people whom he had aided during the day. Each one smiled at him and asked, “Have you not seen me? Did I not sit at your table?” and vanished.
Then softly out of the silence he heard again the gentle Voice, repeating the old, familiar words: “Whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me.”* “For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in.”* “Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”
Let us pray.
O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Greetings of a blessed, healthy, and meaningful Christmas to all.***
