The 'Christ'mas

The word 'Christmas' has its origin in the Old English phrase 'Cristes Maesse', which translates to the Mass of Christ. Here, 'Christ' is a title rather than a name, derived from the Greek word 'Christos', meaning 'anointed one' or 'chosen one', and it refers to Jesus of Nazareth. Christmas is literally a party to celebrate Jesus' life.

Unfortunately, nowadays we don’t see nor think about Jesus. Regardless if you are a Christian or not, the teachings of Jesus go beyond religions, philosophies, countries or cultures - they are about the Human Nature. If you are celebrating Christmas somehow, either through religious or secular lenses, it is worth it to stop for a while and (re)visit the teachings of Jesus. We need them more than ever.?

He remarkably summarizes all His teachings in the following two 'commandments':

“[...] You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. That is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39).

God is all around us. In nature, in biodiversity, in the planet. Is everything that provides for us as species. What do we do? We keep destroying it, eradicating biodiversity and probably becoming extinct in the name of profit and “value creation”. We destroy the soil, the rivers, the oceans, the forests and our lives as well. According to the State of Climate Action 2022, none of the institutional actions we are taking are on-track. Either we shift to a mindset to regenerate nature or we are doomed to extinction. To shift into a regenerative mindset we need to love Nature. Is necessary to protect and regenerate Nature with all our hearth, our soul and minds. Jesus' first teaching shows us the prerequisite to solve the biggest problem in our civilization: We should love and care for what provides for us - above all things.

But to collaborate in a way we can solve our societal problems we need to go beyond that. He continues saying “love your neighbor as yourself”.?

Faced with such a massive global challenge as climate change, risking our own extinction, it is unbelievable that we are throwing bombs at each other instead of coming together to solve our problems. We will achieve nothing without peace. We will achieve nothing without loving our neighbors regardless of their nationality, skin color, religion, faith, sex, whatever…we are ALL humans having EXACTLY the same experience in our consciousness. There are zero reasons to have wars and destruction, but all reasons to have peace and collaboration.?

In the end, we only attack other human beings if we don't love ourselves. Jesus is clear in that: “as you love yourself” He says. How much hate, anger and polarization is due to the fact that people don't love themselves anymore??

We are constantly running away from our internal experience, repressing our emotions and feelings to fit a story created by a failed system. A story where you only fit if you produce money, nothing else. Well being and professional growth are just meaningless words in the face of the next economic downturn. At the same time, it is impossible not to be fearful about the state of the world today. Due to this fear, people are trying to find belonging through wicked politicians, whose aim is basically to maintain the status quo of the billionaires while taking civilization back to the dark ages. This just leads to more suffering as the feeling of hate and isolation burns our self esteem.

We need to stop that.?

This Christmas I wish that we can go beyond religions and remember that Jesus did not create any. His message was and is for all humans: Love will save you. Not hate. Not wars. Not polarization. Not discrimination. Not billionaires. Not Mars colonization. Not AI. Not wicked politicians. Not walls...but LOVE.?

What I want for Christmas… is Love!! ???