The meaning of Christmas - some thoughts with best wishes for 2022

The light of Christmas stars pierces the dark, bare and cold night. It fights its way to the farthest corners, over hills and dales, over streams and rivers, over forests and meadows - to the smallest crevices in the stable where oxen, cows and sheeps find refuge.

We commemorate, as we do every year, the miracle of Christ being born, who brings us all peace in our hearts. He is both light and a fixed star, bringing support and orientation to our bright and dark days.?

Here we could now pause, sing "Silent Night" and rejoice, hand gifts to each other, unwrap them, embrace each other and give warmth.?

This year, however, I would like to "philosophize" a little further. What would happen if Christmas did not exist? Could we even do without it? Of course, we immediately protest that we would be missing something. But what? What is the meaning of Christmas? A few thoughts on this.

First thought: Is Christmas a?Spectacle?

Sure, we all know the shopping deals, the Christmas shopping, Sunday sales and the "stress of getting all gifts". So we could truly talk about a Christmas spectacle. But this is only a superficial observation. Instead, Christmas still inspires reflection today: Why is Christmas Eve so unpretentious and plain? Why only in a stable, not even in a 5 star hotel or hospital, single room, private, mind you? Why was the "coming" not staged as a great show - imagine how thousands of angels with sleighs and reindeers and in the middle Mary and Joseph with the baby Jesus would descend from high above, accompanied by singing choirs, by the thousands, everywhere with pompous light effects, and pop and rock bands for the "young ones", who would all join in ‘Silent Night’, re-purposed chart-wise. No, "Hollywood-like" Christmas Eve does not come along. The mood remains modest, discreet, unobtrusive, calm. Precisely here lies the core of the Christmas message.

Many wisdoms, which were given to us on the way, symbolize this simplicity and the strength of the small:?

"Appreciate the small, and you will be ready for the great."?

"Who does not honor the cents is not worth the dollars."?

"Constant dripping wears away the stone."

"Great silence has a mighty voice."

Second thought: Is Christmas a?Top Communication event?

The message of Christmas is downright groundbreaking. It is the counterpoint of what we would normally expect. Imagine that Christ comes and the first thing he does is not to invite people to a press conference, no Instagram messages, Youtube and Tiktok videos. He also doesn't invite world leaders, the rich and beautiful, "stars" and starlets, VIPs, Kings and Queens to join Him. No, the only thing that has been told us is that he sent out angels into the world, let a Christmas star shine (scientists would speak of a rare comet), and instead of the palaces and kings, the angels appeared directly to the shepherds. Those people, who lived also at that time in the hierarchy pretty much at the lower end of the scale, with few perspectives, little income, little attention. What an insult!

Wisdom symbolizes that everyone is unique and important - whether rich or poor. Openness, courage, heartiness and cordiality are values that we should uphold. This message from Christmas goes into many wisdoms that address our daily behavior:

"Pride comes before a fall."?

"Think not of what you lack. But rejoice in what you have."

"The art is to stand up once more than to be knocked down."

"He who fights for the good may lose. He who does not fight has already lost."

Third thought: Is Christmas to be understood as an?Attack on the existing?

It may sound bizarre to compare Christmas to something revolutionary. It attacks egoistic structures and views. Here the talk of the hostel owners who do not rent a room for fear that the birth pains could cause a lot of "noise" and "bother" the other residents. There is talk of the "dictatorial" behavior of the Romans, who demand that Mary set out with Joseph even in the most vulnerable hour - and this only to collect population figures. Couldn't at least a little more time have been allowed?

Christmas fights against the egoism, against the discontent and against the "only of his own advantages" to be considered. The perpetual "win-loose" mentality should give way to a real "win-win". "Giving of oneself", doing something good for each other and empathizing and thinking "in the other person", as well as acknowledging each other, is a gift of the Christmas miracle.?

Wisdom underpins this meaningfully:?

"Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." (Mt 25:40).?

"Treat others as you would like to be treated".

"Let he who is without sin cast the first stone" (Jn 8:7).

"Even with stones that are put in your way, you can build something beautiful" (Wolfgang Goethe).

Final thought: Christmas as?Respect for one another

The Christmas miracle embraces the highest good of being human, namely, that it has a meaning to live. I heard once that the following saying was used to stop a suicide bomber from his plan: "It is always better to live for something than to die for something." In this sense, Christmas exudes confidence, approval, joy, cordiality, cheerfulness and upheaval for the good.?

Christmas is the feast of love, tolerance, respect, solidarity. The feast of coming together in family and with friends. The feast of forgiving each other and looking forward and not backward.

It is true that Christmas is only once a year. However, the meaning of Christmas is to let the?STAR?of Christmas shine in our hearts throughout the year. Thus, every Christmas Eve and Christmas, we simply get a new?booster?to last until the next Christmas.

In this sense: Merry Christmas and many beautiful joyful moments of giving, love and cordiality in the next 365 days! Take care of each other and stay healthy

René ([email protected])