Dr. Asangba Tzüdir
The season of joy and celebration is here again. Christmas is around the corner and the whole of Christendom is once again reminded of the birthday of Jesus. Decorations have filled the homes and streets in preparation for Christmas. The sights and sounds of Christmas have filled the air enriching the hearts with a sense of joy. More so, the decorations in abundance lighting up the homes and streets brighten up the spirits within.
Yet, beyond the ‘ritualistic’ festivity and decorations, what is Christmas all about? In essence it is about knowing the true meaning and significance of Christmas and translating it into action. Therein lie the joy of Christmas.
In the fullness of time, God revealed his Love by embarking upon the greatest journey from Heaven to Earth, took human form and gave the World His ultimate gift of love and redemption through self-sacrifice. The celebration of baby Jesus is the celebration of God’s unconditional Love for mankind. And therefore Christmas demands something much more than the various forms of symbolic representations associated with the festivity and the earthly fun in the name of Christmas. The celebration of God’s Love is about sharing our Love and also going out of our ‘comfort zone’ with an act of sacrifice.
In Bethlehem, there was no room for Joseph and Mary and had only a stable on offer. The Saviour King was born in a stable offering humanity a great lesson on humility. For now, the ‘festivities’ have filled our hearts and the land, and in our preoccupied and busy life, the Hymn ‘Have you any room for Thee’ seems to remind us whether we have the Love of God in us this Christmas. This will decide whether your Christmas will be a ‘Christ’Mas or Christ replaced by an unknown entity called ‘X’-Mas.
King Herod tried to kill baby Jesus and this Christmas, if you join the likes of King Herod to kill baby Jesus, then it is as good as Christmas being cancelled in your heart and in your home. How would one think about celebrating Christmas when there is no room for Jesus or when there is no room for Love or when you have already killed baby Jesus through acts that does not glorify the name of Jesus? These are thoughts worth reflecting as we prepare our hearts for Christmas.
In a fragmented world today, Christmas should be ‘celebrated’ in ways to heal the fragmented existence, to share love with others irrespective of tribe, caste, class, religion etc. The celebration of Christmas, the love and sacrifice of God, should transcend beyond boundaries and create love in the hearts of the people. Only then love and peace will reign on Earth.
For those who seek the Lord, Baby Jesus has a Gift… He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble at heart, and I will find rest for your souls.”
Let this Christmas be an opportunity for us to translate the Love of God and celebrate Christmas meaningfully in its fullness beyond the ‘flesh and blood and the lips that simply says Merry Christmas.’
(Dr. Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
