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Tuesday, December 23, 2003
Sienes: An alternative Christmas needed
By Cris G. Sienes
Different Strokes
"He chose to be born in a manger among lowly animals and wrapped only in swaddling clothes. Thus, Christmas is really just too simple, but we are making it too complicated by extreme hedonism and materialism. The world needs an alternative Christmas to wean itself from the extreme hedonism and materialism of the age."
THE modern world celebrates Christmas exactly the opposite of how it should be celebrated. It celebrates Christmas in terms of rich gifts, a plethora of food and a river of wine. The reason why Christmas has become so commercialized.
Christ, when He came, could have chosen to be born in a majestic palace amid the deafening blare of trumpets and unbridled festivity. He could have worn a silken diaper on His fanny befitting His regal stature.
But He chose to be born in a manger among lowly animals and wrapped only in swaddling clothes.
Thus, Christmas is really just too simple, but we are making it too complicated by extreme hedonism and materialism.
The world needs an alternative Christmas to wean itself from the extreme hedonism and materialism of the age. Here are fitting reminders courtesy of our Moral Recovery Program before at the Office of the President in Mindanao:
"Is Christmas what we want it to be? We want Christmas to be a Holy day, but we are frustrated to find that it is the advent of Santa Claus, rather than Jesus, that claims most of our attention and energy."
"We want Christmas to be a time of remembering a birth, but are disappointed to find ourselves so hurried and harried that we can only wish it to be over soon."
"We want Christmas to be a celebration of giving, but are embarrassed to find ourselves pressured into buying things for family and friends who may have little need for them, while giving so little attention to those whose needs are so great."
"How can Christmas be different? It can be different by remembering whose birthday it is and finding appropriate ways to celebrate that occasion."
"It can be different by adopting more meaningful, humane personal gift-giving practices."
"It can be different by celebrating in ways that are kind to the earth and considerate of all the earth's people."
"It can be different by diverting time, talents, and money, typically spent on holiday extravagance, to genuine human needs."
Why an alternative Christmas?
"To rediscover the original meaning of Christmas; to practice the will to be fair, to share, to live on less, to practice justice in our lifestyle and celebrations."
"To free our Christmas celebration from mechanical and materialistic commercialism."
"To practice 'creative deprivation' keeping the senses and mind free from material goods that overwhelm us, in order to have room for creative uses of imagination."
"To support life, put an end to the indiscriminate exploitation of the earth's resources."
"To look into broader questions of lifestyle and society, which is an important level for social change."
Yes, Christmas can be different!
"When you give gifts this Christmas, be sensitively aware of the effects of your giving or non-giving on people and the earth."
"Insist that they be life-supporting and conserving."
"Rediscover that creating gifts with your own hands makes you and the gift more humane."
"Remember that the purpose of celebrating and gift-giving should be the enrichment of human relationships."
"This requires something more than material: The investment of self. Therefore, GIVE YOURSELF!"
Point to ponder: "We would give as we would receive, cheerfully, quickly, and without hesitation; for there is no grace in a benefit that sticks to the fingers. That which is given with pride and ostentation is rather an ambition than a bounty." (Lucius A. Seneca, Roman stoic philosopher)
(December 23, 2003 issue)
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