Christmas, a wake-up call
Christmas is a wake-up call for all of us, people of God. In the first Christmas the angels woke up the shepherds and told them the good news about the birth of the Messiah. And every Christmas thereafter the same angels have been trying to rouse us from our slumber of faithlessness, secularism, and disregard of things divine.
Centuries ago that call used to be clear and compelling. Life was then simple and pastoral. The engines of commerce and industry had not yet been fashioned and mobility was mainly through horsebacks. Skyscrapers and cities figured only in dreams, the dreams of perhaps only a few million people. And most of them hearkened to the angels call, and listened to their songs. "Peace on earth and goodwill to men."
Peace did indeed prevail. But only for a time because soon pride and ambition took control of people's sensibilities, the leaders' especially, and bloodshed took place intermittently here and there in the global scene.
Then the Industrial Revolution came. Progress ran roughshod from country to country changing lives and upturning values. Rat race set in. It's every man for himself, every country for itself. And with the loss of values came the rage of war, yes, even one that butchered six million paisanos of the Messiah.
But where were the angels when people writhed in agony during war years? Where were they when helpless kids were pulverized by atomic bombs? On Christmas day while carnage was raging did the angels sing of peace and love?
Yes, every Christmas day the angels sing of peace and love because joy is in their hearts. The Nativity is so great an event, so overwhelming in meaning that no worldly happenings can overshadow its importance. Nor can these stifle the joy in the heart of the heavenly hosts and of our hearts too, we who believe in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Suckers are born every minute, they say. Dangerous people too may have been spawned every minute judging from the prevalence of violence, singular or collective, in many parts of the world. But Jesus was born only once. God became man only once. He will come back as promised, but when he does he would not be wrapped in swaddling clothes but would be garbed as king of kings.
Look at these lines from St. Mark. "And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world, to the ends of heaven."
That's why the angels would keep on singing at Christmas to awaken joy in each of us-the joy of discovering a new life in the Lord, who is "the Way, the Truth and the Life," the joy of basking in the light of his love, the light that will lead us kindly amidst the gloom towards where there's neither sorrow nor crying.
Can we all hear that song? Can we all feel that joy? And the light-can we all see it brighten our path?
Sadly, only those of us who open our ears to the Lord can hear the angels' song. To many it has become muffled because the sirens of worldly cares have kept them deaf to divine music. At Christmas they may be happy and indeed may be jumping with joy for the moment, but that exuberance does not endure nor amount to anything but frustration. Throughout the years they may live in abundance, even wallow in wealth. They may delight in name and fame. But in the long run all is vanity, all is nothing.
The joy from angelic song however resounds loud and clear to those who believe because this touches their soul and draws them nearer the Lord. They may be poor but since they keep on seeking the kingdom of God they will inherit everything good and beautiful including salvation.
Christmas is a wake up call? Yes, but only to those who open their hearts and souls.
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