Encounter with Christ at Christmas time

Jeannette Cabraal

Advertisements scream out that it is the advent of Christmas. Carols blare forth in gaily decorated shopping malls. The sparkle, the glamour, that upsurge of spirit is evident everywhere.

Birth of the Prince of Peace.

Advent in the Christian sense is a waiting - a prayerful waiting for the Lord's coming. Advent is usured with the lighting of a candle at the beginning of the service during the four Sundays prior to Christmas to mark this anticipation. The four candles on the flower entwined candle holder is the Advent wreath symbolic of the season.

The first candle stands for Prophet-John the Baptist who heralded the coming of the Messiah; some even inquired whether he was the Messiah to which he replied that he was only the precursor and the Messiah was one the latchet of whose shoe he was unworthy to unloose.

The second candle symbolises Bethlehem, the city where Christ was born 2000 years ago - the hub of the event. The third stands for Shepherd to whom as legend states the birth was first announced. The fourth for the Star which shone above Bethlehem proclaiming the birth of the Prince of Peace.

This period is one of prayerful anticipation. At least this Christmas which marks the 2,000th anniversary of the birth of Christ it would be expedient for the Christian world to conform to the spiritual expectation rather than indulge in a materialistic upsurge of anticipation.

Two thousands years since the birth of the Prince of Peace and yet the violence, the carnage, the horrors, the hatred on earth among men, unceasingly prevails. The ravages of war leaving raw, open, festering wounds that could never be healed and indelible memories. The message of the Christ child has been lost somewhere in the labyrinth of time.

The spiritual aspect of Christmas is obliterated as the commercial world screams out the profitability. True! Christmas is enjoyed by many regardless of faith. The entertainment, the joyous aspect of it, is inviting enough.

Judging by ads it is presented as an enormously gormandising festival. What with fastidious meals and exotic eats and drinks at equally fastidious and exotic prices, and all sorts of goodies here, there and everywhere, the merriment, the expenditure, it is simply incomprehensible. One is caught up in a veritable whirlpool.

Where do the faithful encounter Christ in this great big clamour? Symbolically at the crib which manifests the humility, the tranquillity, the simplicity and the Peace and Unity that He came to give.

Christ is there with the wretched beggar who probes a dust bin near the cheap cafeterias - the vicinity of affluent hotels being out of bounds for the likes of him - or stretching out a grimy emaciated hand in silent pleading.

"Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers that you do unto me". Christ is there with the lonely, feeble, elder packed away in an Elders' Home, recalling better days and the old happy times with the Old folks at Home.

"My soul is sorrowful even unto death stay ye here and watch with me"

Christ is with the refugees, bereft of all they owned, no place to call their own - wanderers.

"... foxes have lairs but the Son of God has no place to lay his head" Christ is with the bereft mothers and fathers, wives and children who have sacrificed their loved ones at the altar of war.

"Woman behold thy Son

Son behold thy mother"

Christ is with those suffering physically 'racked on bed of pain' struck with terminal disease, languishing in hospitals, those suffering mentally in asylums - ostracised.

"Come to me all ye who labour and are heavily burdened and I will give you rest"

Christ the deprived Babe of Bethlehem, wrapped in swaddling clothes, who was laid in a manger, is with the numerous orphaned, traumatised, abused children.

"Whosoever shall receive one of such little children in my name receiveth me...."

Wouldn't you wish to encounter Christ in these circumstances? Christ came on earth as Prince of Peace to foster Peace on earth and Goodwill to men. We on our part could light our own little candle to dispel the gloom that envelops this war-beset land.

"Blessed are the peace-makers for they shall be called the children of God."