On Christmas Eve, a small village was shrouded in darkness, with only the distant stars in the sky providing their tiny twinkles. At that time, in the 1980s, electricity was very limited in our remote village. There was only one electric light, in the living room. We lit small candles in our yard, which was fenced with cassava tree trunks. The small candles lined among the cassava leaves brought light to dispel the darkness that seemed to prevent us from celebrating Christmas. Our hearts were in harmony with the warm glow of the small candles. The light sometimes danced gently due to the gentle breeze. The wind blew gently as if not wanting to extinguish the light of the small candles. Our Christmas was woven in simplicity, yet full of charm in the light of the small candles that illuminated our faces. Faces that were radiant with joy.
Modern times have eclipsed simple ways of welcoming and celebrating Christmas. Christmas celebrations today are always associated with luxury, even leading to consumerism. People buy many things they don’t actually need, simply to satisfy themselves. Yet, pursuing worldly satisfaction through material possessions will never satisfy us. Shopping malls are filled with offers of excessive luxury, sometimes tempting us to accept them. Many people celebrate Christmas simply by shopping and eating at the mall, without any connection to God. This certainly obscures the true meaning of Christmas.
Glorious
The true Christmas is a grand and glorious event. God became the human Jesus and dwelt among us (John 1:14) to save humanity from the power of sin. This grand and glorious event occurred in a simple event, through and with a simple person. This is the main reason why we celebrate Christmas in simplicity, not in luxury.
Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word”
The incarnation began in a simple town called Nazareth. God, through the Angel Gabriel, visited a simple virgin named Mary to bring the message that she would conceive a Son named Jesus. (Luke 1:26-30) Initially, the virgin Mary did not understand and could not accept the message. How could this happen since she was not yet married. However, despite her confusion, the virgin continued to believe in God’s plan by giving a simple but deep-rooted answer, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). She accepted God’s offer, which was difficult to understand, wholeheartedly. In fact, the Virgin was ready to accept all possible negative reactions from the surrounding community due to her pregnancy. Her simplicity made the virgin Mary open to God’s will in her life. Ultimately, the simplicity of her heart made the Virgin Mary have an important role in God the Father’s plan of salvation for us, humanity. She conceived the Savior.
Humblest
At the birth of the Son, He was not born in a luxurious place but in a simple, even the humblest place, in a stable. (Luke 2:6-7) In the humblest circumstances, the first guests who received an invitation to visit the baby Jesus, to celebrate His birth were simple shepherds. In their simplicity of heart, they joyfully accepted the invitation from the angels (Luke 2:9-11). Those simple people were invited to witness the most sacred, majestic, and glorious event in the history of human life, in a stable. The birth of the Son in that most humble place, cannot be understood by human thought except for every person who has a simple heart that is open to God. That is why Christmas is not about luxury but about simplicity.
We see God present in simplicity. Only those with a simple heart will have a heart willing to give”
Simplicity makes us appreciate the simple things in life because God came into this world in simplicity. In the Holy Child, born in simplicity, God came into this world to save humanity. So, when we celebrate Christmas with family or friends, we remember those who live very simply, especially those who are most in need of help during this Christmas season. In them, we see God present in simplicity. Only those with a simple heart will have a heart willing to give.
Blessings
In the midst of God’s abundant blessings, we as humans can sometimes fall into worldly comforts without a sense of gratitude. If we cultivate gratitude, then the goodness and grace of God we receive, whatever form it takes, are not only for our own use, but our gratitude to God will encourage us to give to others, especially those in need. Without gratitude, we will be trapped in self-satisfaction that leads us to desire more and lead us to an excessively consumerist lifestyle.
May each of us find a simple way to celebrate Christmas, so that we can experience the coming of God in the simplicity of a baby in the humblest place, namely in a manger (Luke 2:12). And ultimately, we have a simple heart that is able to share with those in need in our surroundings and also in this part of the world, wherever they are. The act of giving to others, especially during this Christmas season, is our participation with God who came to this earth and gave himself in the person of a simple baby and in a humble place, to save the world and all in it from the power of death and sin. That is the joy of Christmas in simplicity.
Merry Christmas. May the joy of Christmas fill our homes and hearts.
Bavo Benedictus Samosir, OCSO is a monk and priest at Our Lady of Silence Abbey, Roscrea Co. Tipperary.