The Christian view of the birth of Christ is harder and more realistic. It’s not ‘our’ Christmas, but God’s, and He makes the rules. The humble are exalted. If the needy are righteous their needs are met. The key is our recognition of our helplessness and need before God. We may not be poor in a material sense, yet we may still be beggars before God. ‘The gospel is the message that God gives his gift, his kingdom, to beggars, into empty hands. We have nothing with which to pay him back’ – nothing, that is, except our love.
The Christian message is thus profoundly challenging and disturbing; but it is also a message of joy, peace, love and sharing. You may have heard the Christmas version of Paul’s famous words on love in 1 Corinthians 13, which are proclaimed so often at weddings. Here is part of it:
If I work at a soup kitchen,
sing carols in the nursing home,
and give all that I have to charity;
but do not show love,
It profits me nothing…
Love stops the cooking to hug the child.
Love sets aside the decorating to visit a friend.
Love is kind, though harassed and tired.
Love does not envy another’s home that has coordinated
Christmas china and table cloths.
Love does not yell at the children to get out of the
way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.
Love does not give only to those who are able to give
in return; but rejoices in giving to those who cannot.
Love bears all things, believes all things,
hopes all things, and endures all things.
Love never fails.
Video games will break,
Pearl necklaces will be lost,
Golf clubs will rust,
But giving the gift of love will endure.
