Not everyone experiences the same feelings during the Christmas season. Some are excited about the festivities, the delicious traditional meals, the idea of spending a few days of rest and recreation with their family and friends and of course, the gifts.
Others may feel anxiety and stress at the thought of decorating, their finances and shopping for gifts, or having to cook and getting the house ready for receiving guests. There are also other fears about what happens at family gatherings where disagreements and friction come to light.
There are also many for whom Christmas is synonymous with loneliness.
I start to think about the true meaning of Christmas. We have adopted this date to celebrate the birth of Jesus, which is the greatest gift that humanity has received. I wonder then: Where is the message of Hope, Love, Joy and Peace that announces the arrival of Jesus into this world in our hectic Christmas celebration?
If we want our families to enjoy Christmas in its true spirit, we must teach the true meaning and purpose of this celebration. We must do a reconstruction of the Bethlehem scene. The simplicity and tenderness that they transmit from the Bethlehem manger are the living example that should reign in any of the celebrations that we have during the year and even more so at Christmas.
Let us remember that the manger was not a suitable place for people, it was in a stable, a place for animals, but there in that humble place the greatest event in history took place, the birth of baby Jesus.
There were no gifts, there were no decorations or colored lights, but the night was illuminated by the glow of the angels, the shepherds heard the most melodious melody sung by the angels and the world received the most precious gift of all time in the child Jesus.
This Christmas I invite you to return to Bethlehem and relive the true meaning and spirit of Christmas.
Let us sing with the angels: Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, good will towards men!
