A Christmas Reflection
The Story of Christmas tells us that there was no available room at the inn that night. Jesus was born in a manger. What is the message of this? It means that for some, if not many, the heart remains closed. Love has no place in the way they treat others. The reasons can be many, but the reality is that we only listen to our own voice, or are too caught up in the ways of the world wanting to achieve success or our own happiness, so that we fail to see the pains of those who are hungry.
In short, people cannot love because they can be selfish. Sometimes, we only think of ourselves. We don't or perhaps refuse to see the suffering of other human beings. We are too eager in our own quest for fame, money, and power. In this way, we forget that when we turn away the poor, the needy, and helpless, we are also turning away Christ. Christ, to paraphrase Emmanuel Levinas, is the face of the other. He is the orphan, the widow, the homeless, the victim of corruption and persecution.
We are living in a world where the meaning of Christmas is now about being right. It's no longer about wanting what makes us happy, not even having that thing you so desire of having - a new phone, a pair of sneakers or even a date with someone you miss every single day. Christmas is decided by those who see themselves as the gold standard of moral righteousness so that when you are out there wanting to enjoy a little bit of what the world is, you are labeled as materialistic.
The ones who dictate what you must do, the people who are acting as if they are the moral compass of society, actually often enjoy a shot of single-malt whiskey, walk the earth in their polished shoes, and actually, cause the depletion of the ozone layer when they are jetsetting as they try to pretend that are fighting a cause meant to preserve this God-forsaken planet. The ones who complain about the abuses of others often forget that they too contribute to the lack of justice in the world when they exclude others whenever they highly think of themselves.
What the world needs is peace, acceptance, and fairness in the way men deal with each other. Christmas is about remembering that the love of Christ knows no boundaries. The spirit of Christmas is about that unconditional love. Christ is the true essence of justice. He is with the poor, the powerless and the downtrodden. Christ can't be found in the heart of those who only use the poor for political gain. Whenever a person finds the courage to love the people who have nothing, he is with Christ.
