TONIGHT, we join nearly 90 percent of the country’s population of 119.1 million in celebrating and reflecting on the meaning of Christmas.
The almost 90 percent are baptized Roman Catholic, 6 percent are from different nationalized Christian cults and another 2 percent form more than 100 Protestant denominations – all believers in Jesus Christ, the son of God.
But what really is the true meaning of Christmas?
Beyond the Christmas carols we have started hearing as from September, fretfulness in awaiting Santa, the now often uncontrollable consumerism, the anxiety in gift-giving and the second collection during Masses in some churches, we submit the true meaning is beyond the hustle and bustle, the rapid active commotion as it were, of buying gifts to please relatives and friends.
Perhaps, more than at any time in the Gregorian calendar, Christians must remember God’s love for humanity, the gift of God’s only son Jesus Christ.
This is the nativity story as told by the Bible and the promise of eternal life following Jesus’ great sacrifice, which strongly underlines the story to be one of humility, awe, joy and peace.
Christmas, observed on Dec. 25 every year, celebrates the birth of Jesus, its origin being a life-changing event that unfolded around 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem, a story many baptized Christians believe in their hearts.
As some canonists and theologians say, Christ’s birth changed history, transforming the manner through which human beings interact with the Almighty.
Jesus’ birth fulfilled a prophecy and Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross saved humanity, according to John 3:16 which tells the believers: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
As Christians reflect on the nativity story, they can focus on Mary’s “yes” to God and how believers can also say “yes” to God as faithfully and unabashedly as Mary did.
To understand Mary’s perspective and her story as the Mother of Jesus, they need to remember “Full of Grace” as Mary helps disciples regain their original encounter with her Son.
In Luke 2:11 devotees are told: “Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”
The Bible verse about the origins of Christmas reminds the faithful of God’s promises: God promised them a Savior from the line of David.
As the angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, he proclaimed this Truth that God’s only son had been born.
Here lies the true meaning of Christmas: to celebrate God’s fulfillment of His promise of a Savior.