Extra Talk: We Need To 'Rewrite' The Story Of 'Christmas'

Every time in life we are tempted to throw in the towel, Christmas reminds us that God is still working on us. Through the rough and tumble, through pain and suffering, we are being reborn, reshaped, made into worthy vessels to receive Grace.

Every Christmas reminds us that God has not yet finished with us. He is still moulding and shaping us like a clay pot – all the tossing and turning, and then the master strokes, the finishing touches. When he has finished with us, we will be like beautifully crafted pots, ready to hold all the love and beauty that he will pour into us.

Originally, Christmas was a quiet family feast, when people came home from far and near, just to be with the family and to eat together, sharing not just food but also so many memories and experiences.

Today, many people are lonely at Christmas because they have no one to celebrate the feast with. For some it has become simply a ritual of going to church in one's best clothes and finery , and a few handshakes at the end of the service.

Christmas carol-singing groups bringing Christmas to our doorstep is hardly there anymore. When we were college students, we would be packed into a bus and we would move around the neighbourhood singing carols just for the joy of singing.

Many traditions have developed around Christmas ­ the mistletoe, the advent candles, the feeling of antici pation, of welcoming a great event ­ the birth of Jesus, who is Emmanuel, God with us. As a lonely traveller, these have been a great boon to me. I know that Jesus walks through life with me even though i might not be part of the fun events in the Parish with parties and Santa Claus orga nised for children ­ but i can still be part of the spirit of giving that Christ mas evokes. Maybe a gift of wheat will enable some poor family to put chap attis on the table; maybe a packet of dal will help the afternoon lunch; a cake of soap and washing powder may help a poor family to keep themselves and their clothes clean, at least for a while.

I often wonder how some families have it all on the table of plenty . Besides Christmas cakes and pud dings, each community has its own speciality , the Goans and the Mangaloreans being famous for their sannas and he sorpotel. All this is one aspect of the celebration. But that apart, we are asked to just look around and see the many people who cannot afford, say , a new pair of shoes for the child. There are those who try to eke out a living despite terrible hardships. In the so-called `Christian countries' in the West, there would still be homeless people shivering in the dark winter, whilst others splurge on every conceivable luxury around.

For us that means that we have to rewrite the Christmas story .A real Christmas will bring to us the realisation that we cannot shut our eyes to reality . We cannot just drive past and pretend that all these poor, hurting people are not there. God will finish with us when our task of bringing hope to others, especially the less privileged, is over, and somebody else is ready, when we have to pass on the baton.

Like a relay race, Christmas is meant to rekindle the team spirit, where we don't just `celebrate' amongst ourselves. A celebration is real only when everybody is included and we are able to be kind and compassionate to all.