Who does Christmas bother?The Grinch doesn't exist, but it seems that they are trying to steal Christmas from us all the same. One only has to look around these days to see that. There are marvelous lights illuminating our cities: little balls of Christmas treeReindeer, reindeer, wrapped gifts... Isn't there something missing?
Strolling through a shopping mall, one is impressed by the thousands of details that are displayed in the aisles. Reds, golds and greens are all the rage right now. If you're walking too fast, you might bump into the Santa Claus inflatable that they have placed in the middle of the mall for children to take pictures with. Isn't there something missing?
Go into a supermarket and enjoy thinking about all those turrones, polvorones and roscones that you are going to eat in the coming days. At Christmas the pleasures of food are not guilty, but... isn't there something missing?
It seems that, as in that typical Christmas movie, we have forgotten the true meaning of these celebrations. It's time to get together with the family, to go see your child singing the "Burrito Sabanero" at the school recital, to decorate the house and think about the gifts that your loved ones might like. Now, why?
And it is important to underline that I am not criticizing all these things. I think they can be very good, as long as we realize that they are only clues, lights that point us to what is really important. We could even think that they are like that star that years ago showed the way to some wise men from the East. And if we follow that trail, we too will find that manger in which there is a newborn Child.
It is true that we have surrounded Christmas with things that are alien to its original meaning: "Black Friday", sales, business lunches... And, if we are not careful, those beautiful lights in the cities can blind us. But as God knows how to take advantage of everything, I think that even this can be an opportunity to wake us up.
May Christmas not be taken away from us. May we not get comfortable among decorations and gifts, but take advantage of the clues. The important thing is not the star, but the place it points to.
Hopefully we will have the courage to put the BelenTo bring out the Child Jesus to the balconies, to remember the meaning of Christmas. Let's look at that Child who comes into the world for us. On this night of peace, let's give a little war to the Grinch.
Who does Christmas bother?
