IS CHRISTMAS REALLY A TIME OF JOY AND REJOICING?

by: Norberto Betita

The shocking experiences of people, who suffered the very dreadful storms and tragedies of life; the anguish and grief for the loved and lost, brought about by the desolating catastrophe; the sorrows and pain for the desired healing and recovery which appear to extend years of poverty and suffering, prompted many wounded souls to raise the question, “IS CHRISTMAS REALLY A TIME OF JOY AND REJOICING?” The calm and serenity after the storm emerged as to envelope crumbled homes, uprooted trees, destroyed cash crops, and denuded forests. The breaking light of day which signals a brightness of hope for the lonely and the weary victims seemed not to heal the pains of loneliness and sorrow. Compassion, sympathy, generosity, benevolence and love abound. Yet it does not fill the voids and emptiness.

To the most sympathetic and compassionate, there seemed to be no reason to celebrate the joyful spirit of the blessed season while our fellowmen in the affected areas are in extreme suffering. Corporate and office Christmas parties have to be discontinued as an expression of empathy and love, and funds were laid as offerings in the tables of the hungry and the distressed in noble acts of generosity and benevolence.

However, we need to understand that Christmas served a blessed purpose and adversity has its own reason. Consequently, whatever our circumstances, whether we are the generous donors or the grateful receiver of benevolent offerings, we need to welcome with joyful anticipation the Spirit of Christmas who is Jesus Christ and His infinite gift of love. 

Long before the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ prophets had predicted His birth: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). In the Book of Mormon it was foretold “...the Son of God cometh upon the face of the earth..., he shall be born of Mary, at Jerusalem..., she being a virgin, a precious and chosen vessel, who shall be overshadowed and conceive by the power of the Holy Ghost, and bring forth a son, yea, even the Son of God.” (Alma 9:9-10). The signs preceding his birth was predicted to be a time when “...there shall be great lights in heaven, insomuch that in the night before he cometh there shall be no darkness, insomuch that it shall appear unto man as if it was day... there shall be one day and a night and a day, as if it were one day and there were no night... the night shall not be darkened; and it shall be the night before he is born...there shall a new star arise, such an one as ye never have beheld.” (Helaman 14;3-5). 

While Jesus was conceived in His mother’s womb, “... the angel of the Lord appeared” to Joseph “in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins...that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:20-23).

Such exalted declarations of the birth of the Savior of the world were one of expectant joy and gladness; of happiness and rejoicing. Indeed, He was born in accordance with the prophetic utterances, given birth by the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judea. Perhaps even in that little town of Bethlehem He should have been afforded the best attention; provided with the best available room; offered the best obtainable bed and linen for her mother and Himself to lie on, worthy only of the hospitality that should have been extended and bestowed to The Son of God, The Savior of the World, The Prince of Peace, JESUS THE CHRIST! The birth and coming of the Emmanuel---God is with us, should have been in such a place of comfort as many of those born before and during His time. Instead He chose to condescend and made Himself lower than us all by choosing to be born in an animal stable. Luke described the event: “And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn. (Luke 2:7). What a pathetic condition! What a dismal situation, a disheartening setting for a prophesied Son of God! When measured according to the world’s norms, such should have been worst a situation for the birth of the King of Kings. This perhaps made the angel to ask the prophet Nephi in a vision many years before Christ’s birth, “Knowest thou the condescension of God?” (1 Nephi 11:16). And perhaps for this reason He was despised of His own. 

Yet in that calmly night and despite the bleak condition of His birth; where only the scattered straws of hay served as floorboards for the ground; where only His earthly parents and animals stood beside and around Him; the heavens rejoiced, “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” (Luke 2:13-14) To the “shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night, “the angel” declared, “behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

“And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. (Luke 2:8, 10-12).

Wise men guided by a new star which was “seen...in the east...come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2). Matthew’s account of the visit was expressive of real joy and gladness of men whose prominence was even associated with the powerful King Herod. They leave behind their fame and forgot a while their popularity and reputation, and come to worship a babe born in the lowliest of circumstances, which they believed according to the prophecies to be the Son of God---The Savior of the world. Matthew described their feelings: “When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy. And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:10-11). The wise men felt that such precious gifts are indeed worthy and fitting for the new born King of Kings.

However, sadness and sorrow followed His wondrous birth as Herod the King, “...slew all the children in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under...then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children and would not be comforted, because they are not.” (Matthew 2:16-18). Jesus was spared to fulfill His saving mission.

The Atonement of Jesus Christ---His greatest mission to save the world from sin and death is the most sublime and transcendent message that came with His birth. The great light that was shown in the east remains a constant reminder that indeed “...Jesus” is “the light of the world...” and “he that followeth” him “shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” (John 8:12). This light is the brightness that beams along the path, as it did the wise men of old and served as a continual guide in our journey back into the presence of our Heavenly Father. 

No matter the circumstances of His birth; notwithstanding His greatest sacrifice of bleeding at every pore in the garden of Gethsemane and eventually dying on the cross at Calvary; and despite the lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning shortly following His death; we have every reason to rejoice in celebration of His birth for it was from such beginnings that we are given the hope of victory over death and afforded the opportunity to inherit “the glory of the Celestial, which excels in all things---where God, even the Father reigns upon his throne forever and ever.” (D & C 76:92).

Apart from the tragic experiences that many of us had been through, there are other points and issues relative to the Christmas celebrations and festivities which somehow also make many of us to doubt the veritable reality of Christmas as a joyful season, and so ask the same question as the sorrowful and grief- stricken victims of tragedies, “IS CHRISTMAS REALLY A TIME OF JOY AND REJOICING?” Dieter F. Uchtdorf has this to say about such circumstances: “Who among us has not felt concern over the commercialization and even greed of the Christmas season? Who hasn't felt overwhelmed by the packed calendars, the stress of finding gifts, the pressure of planning meals and events? In fact, psychologists tell us that during this season of cheer and goodwill, many feel sorrow and depression.” He further said, “All of these spectacular displays and decorations that compete for our attention can be beautiful and uplifting, but if that's all we see, then we're missing something that's in plain sight. Sometimes, despite our best intentions, we become so preoccupied with responsibilities, commitments, and the stress of our many tasks that we fail to see with our hearts that which is essential and most sacred.”

As in history, the joyful activities of the Christmas season fade away towards another year of festivity, in the same manner that the pangs of tribulations and sufferings which affected the lives of our people will pass away. May we ever keep in mind that the true and real gift giving in that first Christmas morn is never an event to be forgotten? It is by continuous recollection of that blessed dawn of Christ’s birth where we may get daily doses of faith, hope, charity and love. To the victims of tragedies, let those painful experiences be recorded in your life’s historical---a memorabilia of the refining and purifying tests of mortality. “There is no better time than now, this very Christmas season, for all of us to rededicate ourselves to the principles taught by Jesus the Christ. Let it be a time that lights the eyes of children and puts laughter on their lips. Let it be a time for lifting the lives of those who live in loneliness. Let it be a time for calling our families together, for feeling a closeness to those who are near to us and a closeness also to those who are absent.” (Thomas S. Monson). Yes, let Christmas be a time of joy and rejoicing.