CELEBRATING CHRISTMAS[1]
The people of Minahasa, a main ethnic group in North Sulawesi, where I was born, have a unique tradition in starting the early periods of the Christmas celebration. Right after the changing month from August to September, thus starting in early September, you can already hear Christmas hymns played at the most of the Christians’ house. Most people also start decorating their house for example by repainting or renovating it, painting the fence, set up a Christmas tree in one of the corner of their living room with all its decoration. People start thinking of buying new cloths, new refrigerator, music player, and even luxurious items such as home theatre and car. And the church building is decorated too; setting up a committee for organizing Christmas celebration, and so on.
By doing all of these, people want to show that Christmas is the most important part of their Christian life; and it is the expression and the application of their faith. Here, they put the physical-material appearance as a priority. This tendency is in accorcance with the character of most people here who like to emphasize the external appearance. It is therefore there is a aphorism attached to this people, i.e., biar kalah nasi asal jangan kalah aksi, meaning: I would rather loose my life than my pride and prestige. Here, pride and prestige are determined by having luxurious items.
People want to be respected or adored for such success. Here they need much money, and because they don’t have the money, they then lend it from creditors or bank by putting their land or rice field or monthly salary as the collateral. Or, some even sell their land. And what do they get after Christmas celebrations, particularly starting in January the next year? The pride and adoration? No! But, bankruptcy, poverty and sufferings; tension, conflict and illness. Thus, in the end, celebrating Christmas only causes problem and suffering. And this is absolutely not a good attitude in and a result of celebrating Christmas. The mistake here is on the perspective that puts the priority on the material things, the appearance, not on the inner side of a human being; a mental, moral, ethic and spiritual aspects of Christmas. This is not what the essential meaning and function the Christmas as aimed by God, i.e., to bring salvation, peace, happiness and joy.
This tendency, in my opinion, occurs also in many Christians’ lives everywhere this world. People are always busy preparing Christmas celebrations by highlighting the material aspects, hedonism, consumerism and entertainment, and they let behind the essential meaning and function of the coming of Jesus Christ, i.e., to bring redemption and salvation. This is because egoism and egocentrism, arrogant, greedy, and a feeling of superior are put forward.
If that is the case, the questions emerge: what kind of Christmas celebration is that? Is that really a welcoming ceremony to the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ? Are the people are really experiencing the coming of Jesus? I don’t think so!!
Welcoming Christ is carried out through proclaiming his coming with a thankfulness and joyful heart which you spread to others too. Here, as done by John the Baptized, your assignment is to prepare the way for the Lord, and to make the strait path. This concerns mental, moral, ethic and spiritual aspects. Thus what to be prepared the most is our selves, our personality, attitude and behavior; not by highlighting the greatness and luxurious ceremonies and self appearance. Here, there is a need of repentance; a self conciousness that you or we are sinful people who have committed legal, moral, ethic and spiritual crime against God and humanity. Thus, we are criminals before God, who need repentance and redemption by God through the coming of Jesus Christ.
If you repent and you know and believe that God is here and He forgives you, what do you feel then? ……….relief…. and that is Heaven. If you reform your attitude and behavior, do good things to your selves and others, and you are able to see the positive results of it, what do you feel?........relief and happy…. And that is Heaven.
If you finally can say “Thank You Lord, Thank You for giving me strength and ability to do good things and I m happy, what do you feel? ………relief, happy, calm and peace of mind and soul……and that is Heaven.
That Heaven is what Jesus brought to the world in the Christmas time. And it is together with God in Holy Spirit, that Heaven is present in our lives today. And if God and His Heaven present, everything will be possible; even the impossibility in the eyes of human being. Just like the story of Abraham and Sarah. The presence of God, with his love, compassion and grace brings salvation, a happy and peaceful life. The question is: how will and how can God be present in our life? The answer is: prepare the way for the Lord; make the strait path; put the priority in preparing Christmas celebration upon repentance, ask for God’s forgiveness and just do good things; and don’t create tension, trouble, conflict and suffering in your lives, but heaven. God has provided this Heaven to us as the Bible (I Pet 2:9-10) says:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
A m e n.
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