Pope Benedict XVI once commented in a message that Christmas festivities have been polluted by consumerism and materialism. The pope’s observation is not something new. In fact, we have been appealing to people to rediscover the real spirit of Christmas. We should not allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by Christmas parties, Christmas gifts, and holiday shoppings. The Christmas season is, first and foremost, a special moment of prayer and reflection. It is a special time to relish once again the wonderful mystery of God-becoming-man, of love made flesh, of acceptance and forgiveness.
Interestingly, Pope Benedict suggested that during this season, we need to assemble the Nativity scene (Belen in the Philippines) in our homes in order to teach the central part of our faith. The pope said: “Assembling the Nativity scene in the home can turn out to be a simple but effective way of presenting the faith to pass it on to one’s children. The Nativity scene helps us contemplate the mystery of the love of God, which is revealed to us in the poverty and simplicity of the grotto in Bethlehem.”
How does the Nativity Scene inform us about God’s love and our life as Christians? First and foremost, the Nativity Scene teaches us that genuine love knows no boundaries. Can you imagine a God Almighty becoming a defenseless infant? Whereas before there was a “seeming” boundary between God and humanity, between heaven and earth; now, there is no more. In Jesus, God and humanity become one. He is Emmanuel – God with us, in us and among us. God loves us without limits. He shared our joys and sorrows, our laughters and tears, and everything human, including the effect of sin which is death.
The Nativity Scene shows us that genuine loving embraces all, the dirty and the clean, the rich and the poor, the wise men and the ignorant. God’s love marginalizes no one. All have a space in the heart of our Savior. This is an important point because our love ordinarily has limits. “Love one another as I have loved you”, Jesus once said. Unfortunately, we don’t love as Jesus loved us. Our love is like this: I will love you as long as you behave, as long as you remit your salaries, as long as you don’t annoy me, as long as you smell good, as long as you don’t contradict my opinions, as long as you make me happy, as long as you are young and beautiful, as long as you make me feel good. Or simply, I will love you until further notice.
Second, the Nativity Scene teaches us that there is beauty in simplicity. The picture or image of the Nativity includes the most ordinary people, animals and things. And yet, it is the most beautiful picture the world has ever seen. There is nothing like it that captures the eyes and imagination of brilliant artists and poets of all times and places.
That there is beauty in simplicity is an important point because the world and people today have become so complicated. We have come to believe that the more sophisticated we become, the happier we are. We think that the more we have, the more satisfied we are. This is what the prevailing culture and the media kept telling us today, and we believe it. So, we save, we buy, we collect, and we grab in order to enjoy and have fun. However, while things are mounting and piling up in us, we are left wanting and dissatisfied. We feel the need to have more. We are jealous that others have more than what we already have. There always is another new model or brand name to buy. In the end, we realize that we are not really happy and life remains empty and meaningless. And we wonder why?
Things don’t necessarily make us happy. In fact, many of the good things in life are not material and cannot be bought with money. One can buy books, but not intelligence; medicine, but not health; food, but not appetite; people, but not friends, mansions, but not homes; pleasure, but not happiness. Sometimes, material things are even the cause of our troubles and quarrels.
If we have many things in life, we end up having little or no more space for people and for God. If our hearts are full, nobody can enter it, not even God. We end up unhappy because we are made for one another and for God, not for things. It is our relationships that give meaning to our lives. It is sad that we relate more with things, not with people. We allowed material things to use us, instead of us using them for a good purpose. If we remain simple (that is, content with the basic necessities of life), we are more free and we radiate more beauty.
Finally, the Nativity Scene teaches us that happiness is found when there is oneness and intimacy between persons. Joseph, Mary and Jesus are closely bonded in love. There is distance between them, but you can feel their connectedness. Each one is a joy and comfort to the other.
That real joy is found in communion is another important reminder inasmuch as people today are threatened with disintegration because of the influx of created technological needs. What is going on in many homes today? Are we still having good, quality time for one another? How many are complaining because their spouses are busy navigating the internet? How many parents are disgusted by their children’s addiction to computer games? Many complain because their children no longer talk with them. The children are busy chatting or conversing with others on their celfone. Is it not quite weird that we connect with somebody far from us but not with others near us? How much time is enough to listen to very loud music? I guess right now one needs more than twenty-four hours a day to listen to their “Ipod” because this electrical device can accommodate 20 thousand songs. What happens now to our relationships in the family?
If we are not careful we will end up being alienated from one another and from God. The Nativity Scene inspires us to give more time listening and conversing with people near us. Intimacy and true friendship is only possible when we decide to give our time for one another.
Interestingly, Pope Benedict suggested that during this season, we need to assemble the Nativity scene (Belen in the Philippines) in our homes in order to teach the central part of our faith. The pope said: “Assembling the Nativity scene in the home can turn out to be a simple but effective way of presenting the faith to pass it on to one’s children. The Nativity scene helps us contemplate the mystery of the love of God, which is revealed to us in the poverty and simplicity of the grotto in Bethlehem.”
How does the Nativity Scene inform us about God’s love and our life as Christians? First and foremost, the Nativity Scene teaches us that genuine love knows no boundaries. Can you imagine a God Almighty becoming a defenseless infant? Whereas before there was a “seeming” boundary between God and humanity, between heaven and earth; now, there is no more. In Jesus, God and humanity become one. He is Emmanuel – God with us, in us and among us. God loves us without limits. He shared our joys and sorrows, our laughters and tears, and everything human, including the effect of sin which is death.
The Nativity Scene shows us that genuine loving embraces all, the dirty and the clean, the rich and the poor, the wise men and the ignorant. God’s love marginalizes no one. All have a space in the heart of our Savior. This is an important point because our love ordinarily has limits. “Love one another as I have loved you”, Jesus once said. Unfortunately, we don’t love as Jesus loved us. Our love is like this: I will love you as long as you behave, as long as you remit your salaries, as long as you don’t annoy me, as long as you smell good, as long as you don’t contradict my opinions, as long as you make me happy, as long as you are young and beautiful, as long as you make me feel good. Or simply, I will love you until further notice.
Second, the Nativity Scene teaches us that there is beauty in simplicity. The picture or image of the Nativity includes the most ordinary people, animals and things. And yet, it is the most beautiful picture the world has ever seen. There is nothing like it that captures the eyes and imagination of brilliant artists and poets of all times and places.
That there is beauty in simplicity is an important point because the world and people today have become so complicated. We have come to believe that the more sophisticated we become, the happier we are. We think that the more we have, the more satisfied we are. This is what the prevailing culture and the media kept telling us today, and we believe it. So, we save, we buy, we collect, and we grab in order to enjoy and have fun. However, while things are mounting and piling up in us, we are left wanting and dissatisfied. We feel the need to have more. We are jealous that others have more than what we already have. There always is another new model or brand name to buy. In the end, we realize that we are not really happy and life remains empty and meaningless. And we wonder why?
Things don’t necessarily make us happy. In fact, many of the good things in life are not material and cannot be bought with money. One can buy books, but not intelligence; medicine, but not health; food, but not appetite; people, but not friends, mansions, but not homes; pleasure, but not happiness. Sometimes, material things are even the cause of our troubles and quarrels.
If we have many things in life, we end up having little or no more space for people and for God. If our hearts are full, nobody can enter it, not even God. We end up unhappy because we are made for one another and for God, not for things. It is our relationships that give meaning to our lives. It is sad that we relate more with things, not with people. We allowed material things to use us, instead of us using them for a good purpose. If we remain simple (that is, content with the basic necessities of life), we are more free and we radiate more beauty.
Finally, the Nativity Scene teaches us that happiness is found when there is oneness and intimacy between persons. Joseph, Mary and Jesus are closely bonded in love. There is distance between them, but you can feel their connectedness. Each one is a joy and comfort to the other.
That real joy is found in communion is another important reminder inasmuch as people today are threatened with disintegration because of the influx of created technological needs. What is going on in many homes today? Are we still having good, quality time for one another? How many are complaining because their spouses are busy navigating the internet? How many parents are disgusted by their children’s addiction to computer games? Many complain because their children no longer talk with them. The children are busy chatting or conversing with others on their celfone. Is it not quite weird that we connect with somebody far from us but not with others near us? How much time is enough to listen to very loud music? I guess right now one needs more than twenty-four hours a day to listen to their “Ipod” because this electrical device can accommodate 20 thousand songs. What happens now to our relationships in the family?
If we are not careful we will end up being alienated from one another and from God. The Nativity Scene inspires us to give more time listening and conversing with people near us. Intimacy and true friendship is only possible when we decide to give our time for one another.
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