The symbol of Christmas the world over is the Nativity, and the sound or music associated with it is “Peace on Earth Goodwill to Men.”
What was lost through the ages was how the world was and always will be. It will always be beset with struggle and strife. This reality was somehow lost on how beautiful Baby Jesus was. Even ordinary mortal infants have that saintly purity or innocence on their faces, how much more the Son of God? It would not take long, however, for the real reason for His coming was revealed. He took the cudgels for all of us by going against the devilish superstitious teachings of those whose main motive was to exploit us. For that, he was nailed to the cross.
Let us not mistake the good looks and seemingly peaceful situation of the Nativity because, like during His time, we have to be ready for what is there and what will forever be coming—the ever present danger of others intent on taking advantage of us.
The point is peace and progress are attained only with continuous struggling against ignorance, the best friend of those who mislead us by inculcating in us fear, that if we did not follow their word, we would be suffering our whole lives. But we had been suffering all our lives. It was never encouraged for us to fight the forces that keep us down economically and spiritually.
We were even made to just wait for the second coming, thereafter, peace and prosperity would forever reign. Yet, the Lord Jesus came here to fight. The fight he waged even cost Him His worldly life.
Let us look at what are happening around. Not so long ago, the leaders of the dominant Christian group in this country was being shamelessly insulted by somebody in power. What did that group do? Nothing.
That is the same reason why so many economic injustices are being perpetrated and yet that group and other big Christian groups are just silent. Have they done anything through legal means to address the gross inequitable distribution of wealth in this country? Nothing.
So as the younger generations grow up, they will not be any different. They will just continue to take comfort in the wholesomeness of the Nativity. They will continue to disregard that peace and prosperity are the effects of fight.
Not just fighting those who oppress us but also our limitations that keep us from progressing spiritually and economically.**