Do we not throw parties to mark our birthdays? And we celebrate posthumously the birthdays of our fallen national heroes, heroines, and global icons by giving lectures on the dates on which their birthdays fall. For many centuries, Christians have been celebrating Christmas, the birthday of Jesus Christ, our Messiah. It is said that he was partly human and partly divine. Jesus Christ, who walked the earth more than two thousand years ago, was a revered and important religious figure. Christians believe him to be the Messiah, the redeemer of human-kind. Biblical accounts about his life say that Virgin Mary gave birth to him after having an immaculate conception. Given the immense deeds and miracles he performed, and the revolutionary religious works he carried out while on earth, his birthday is worth celebrating.
But not every Christian sect marks his birthday on the grounds that his actual date of birth seems to be indeterminate. There are diverse and conflicting myths and legends surrounding his birth. A Christian sect, the Jehovah Witnesses, has produced books and religious journals that posit and argue the Jesus Christ was not born on December 25. It is also believed that a pagan festival was Christianized as Christmas in order to make it acceptable to people. Now, in Christendom, Christmas is the most important festival in the Christian calendar. It has gained wide acceptance as billions of people celebrate it. Those opposed to the celebration of Christmas argue that Christ didn’t instruct us to mark his birthday. And they say that Christmas has its roots and origins in pagan and idolatry practices.
But Jesus Christ whose birthday is celebrated on every December 25 preached, propagated, and spread the message of love among the people(s) of the world. He was impaled on the cross but he forgave his murderers their sins. The teachings of Jesus are anchored and based on love. The Holy Scripture says this, “Love covers a multitude of sins.” And he who is with charity has fulfilled the commandments of God. If you love your wife, you will not kill her for money – making rituals; and if you love your compatriots, you will not divert money entrusted in your care for the rehabilitation of bad roads into your private bank account. Are bad roads with craters not the major cause of road accidents in Nigeria?
The season of Christmas offers us the ample opportunity to renew and rekindle our love for other people. Christ whose birthday we are celebrating paid the supreme price to guarantee our salvation and redemption. He did that out of love. Do we meditate and reflect on the teachings and message of Jesus Christ during the yuletide season and beyond? Do we engage in acts of charity during the period, too?
Now, Christmas is the time during which Christians living in places other than their home-towns return home. It is time when members of a family experience family reunion. People consummate their marriages in holy wedlock during the period. Other ceremonies and festivals are celebrated during the period, too.
Sadly, the celebration of Christmas has assumed a despicable dimension and hue. Prior to the celebration of the festival, some people engage in immoral and heinous acts in order to make money with which they will buy food items, clothes, pieces of furniture, and other things for the celebration of Christmas. The Christmas festival has been monetized and commercialized. Now, it is time for the ostentatious display of wealth by the rich. Some rich people add new cars to their fleet of cars, and marry new wives.
And youths engage in unrestrained sexual concupiscence during the period. Consequently, some teenage girls are left with unintended pregnancies some months after the celebration of the festival. Some ladies’ futures were blighted and ruined by their indulgence in pre-marital sex during the Christmas period. An unwed single female parent will find it hard to cope with academic rigors in tertiary institutions. More so, in the recent past, during the celebration of the festival, some men who are dipsomaniac binged on intoxicating drinks, which caused them to have near fatal car accidents while behind the wheels.
There is no gain saying the fact that our perpetration of sinful and immoral acts and crimes has characterized the celebration of Christmas. It is sad that the commemoration of our Savior’s birth is tainted by our indulgence in unwholesome deeds. Consequently, Christmas has lost its spiritual and religious significances. Jesus Christ propagated and spread the message of love while on earth. He taught us to imbibe the virtues of holiness, righteousness, tolerance, and faithfulness. Do we manifest those sterling personal qualities that defined the personality of Jesus Christ? The answer is a categorical no.
The celebration of Christmas calls for sober reflection, and the re-dedication of our lives to true Christian living.
Chiedu Uche Okoye writes in from Uruowulu–Obosi, Anambra State. He is a poet and a Civil servant.
You can wish him a Merry Christmas on 08062220654
