The Simplest Thing to Remember during Christmas: Jesus

Before I begin to elaborate on the point of my article, I'd like to share this text message that I've received recently:

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Jesus and Santa Claus talking...

Jesus: alam mo, naiinggit ako sa iyo..

Santa: bakit naman?

Jesus: kasi ikaw ang inaabangan nila sa birthday ko.

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Sad reality, is it not? Somehow when we try to evaluate ourselves, this sometimes becomes the case. We come to expect the wrong person when Christmas comes, and we might forget that Christmas isn't all about getting the most gifts. That's why we must always keep in mind the core reason why we do celebrate Christmas. The point is not in feasts, not in Santa Claus giving us gifts through our chimneys nor in artfully decorating our homes for the season, they are merely part of the celebration, or I'd prefer to call it the 'decorations' for the occasion.

Looking at our present time, there are so many distractions that tend to sidetrack us from our intended purpose. Such is the modern world in which we live in. Things are becoming less simpler than they were before. There are so many things that require a lot of procedures before they are accomplished. And we are often caught in the complexity of it all. Christmas trees, decorations, Santa Claus, caroling, exchange-gifts and others are part of our yearly Christmas tradition. And because Christmas is understood to be a joyous and festive event, we go around putting up and preparing all these things. Indeed, they brighten up the occasion and add so much life to it. Then again, that's not the point entirely. Remember to focus on the source of the light, not its glow.

We celebrate Christmas for a very very important reason, and that is the Birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. He is the One who died for our sins, the One whom we call on when we are troubled, and it is He who must be kept alive in our hearts, most especially during the Christmas season. His birth signifies the salvation of mankind, our cleansing from earthly sins. He is Jesus Christ, the Light of the World.

And that's the bottom line. It all comes down in remembering the birth of a little child who was to become our Saviour, born in simplicity, laid in a manger. It was this moment when the angels sang choirs in the skies, and Three Wise Men came to find Jesus to give him gifts and acknowledge him as King and as the Son of God. Jesus is the core reason why we all celebrate Christmas. The one whom the banquet must be prepared for.

I do enjoy all the festivities of Christmas; the bright and colorful lights, the Christmas trees, the decorations, the carolers, the Noche Buena, Nine Mornings, Santa Claus and the reindeers too. I guess everyone does. A pat on the back, cheering up a sad friend, greetings of 'Merry Christmas', simple exchange of gifts, completing the Nine Mornings and family time surely gives the Christmas season its 'magic'. In the midst of it all, we should remember that we do these things because we share the love that God gave us, we share our happiness with others, and most of all because we celebrate the birth of that little child who is Jesus, our Saviour.

It doesn't matter what amount money we spend during this season, because as everyone knows, true happiness is intangible but heartfelt. The simple joys we give each other out of love, with money spent or not, is our way of preparing ourselves for His coming. It is what should be remembered and treasured in our hearts, and that's when the happiness and magic of Christmas is truly seen and felt.