Michael Kelly
The Italian Catholic activist Chiara Lubich reflected some years ago on the fact that our contemporary culture appears to have abandoned Christ, but certainly not Christmas.
Even people who have long since moved away from the practise of their faith are still captivated by Christmas – at least on the face of it, the celebration of the Word made flesh in the wonder of the Incarnation.
Ms Lubich reflected on walking down busy streets covered in lights as Christmas shoppers rushed around buying presents and making final their final festive preparations.
Observing the beautiful window displays adorning the various department stores, she writes: “A child with his parents stands on tiptoe and watches fascinated.
“But in my heart is disbelief and then, almost rebellion: this rich world has trapped Christmas and all that goes with it, and has evicted Jesus!
“It loves the poetry, the atmosphere, the friendship that Christmas brings, the gifts it suggests, the lights, the stars, the songs. It looks to Christmas for the best profits of the year. But to Jesus it gives no thought,” she wrote.
It’s easy for Christians to lament the loss of the religious sense of Christmas, but we have to honestly ask ourselves to what extent we may have contributed in some ways to the secularisation of this most holy of feasts.
How ready are we to talk about our Faith? How often do we send Christmas cards adorned with an image of Santa Claus or a beautiful winter scene? At a broader level, do we act as Christians in a way that would attract the curious to our way of life?
It has been said that in our contemporary culture God is missing but not missed. At the same time, many people who choose to walk without God live wonderful lives and are altruistic people who live their lives for others.
The challenge for believers: the challenge of Christmas is to bring God back to the centre of life. To show those who see no meaning for themselves in the Christian life that Christ has the power to transform even the deepest darkness into new life.
We have to continue to propose Christ’s invitation to enter into relationship with him – the God who entered the world as a poor, small, helpless infant – the most vulnerable state imaginable.
Hodie Salvator apparuit: merry Christmas.