It is beautiful every year to go to the church for the night Mass in the Christmas night. The decorations will be more beautiful than on any other day. The beautiful crib, Christmas tree, decorated alter, eletrical illumination, shining stars etc. prepare the mind to receive the Christmas message.
As I saw the beautiful Christmas crib of this year I remembered my visit to the biggest crib exhibition of Europe in a village on the boundary between Germany and Belgium called Losheim. The exhibition is open on all the 365 days of the year. Cribs from America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, Canada namely from all the continents, and from all the possible cultures are to see there. Outside the exhibition hall there is a lively crib with original living animals inside the crib. We can visit inside the exhibition hall more that hundred cribs which express different artistic expressions from different cultures and different countries. Each crib is different and the figures in each crib are different in the ethnic, cultural expressions of the figures of Mary and Joseph, even in their dress and facial expression.
In sipe of their racial and cultural differences I could see many similarities in all the cribs. First the figures of Jesus, Joseph and Mary were placed among the shepherds, sheep and other animals.
The situation there is much simple and humble than we could think of. If we think of the medical care and huge ich preparations people making today who expect the birth of a child, one could feel that Jesus was born in a very poor, simple and an inhuman situation. It gives the not only the message that many world leaders did not grew up in a wealthy and well todo background but also that the Lord Jesus was born in a manger who did not get a place in a hostel or lodge. Jesus is the example of simplicity. The more higher and greater the more simple and humble; the more weaker, the more mightier.
In all the cribs in Losheim I could find that although the different figures of Joseph and Mary had different colour and genetic specialities the facial expression showed that both Joseph and Mary were happy, satisfied and self confident. They did not show any tension or stress. Although they could not find a place to give birth to their child during that night, they were not hopeless. All the different artists from different cultural backgrounds without speaking each other and agreeing each other have presented Joseph and Mary with similar emotional expressions of happiness, joy, satisfaction and self confidence. Both Joseph and Mary might be happy and satisfied to get at least a manger for Jesus.
This happiness and satisfaction we celebrate and experience during Christmas. When we wish happy christmas and celebrate Christmas in different ways we are experiencing this joy and happiness even though we face different kinds of problems and difficulties in our life just like Joseph and Mary had. The problems and difficulties should not affect us in any way. On the way to Bethlehem or after the birth of Jesus as Joseph and Mary flew to Egypth Joseph and Mary believed in the providence of God. They believed in words of the angel: „“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.“
Every Christmas night reminds us of the joy and happiness of Joseph and Mary besides their difficulties and problems. Let us be happy and celebrate the hope and the joy of Christmas. Emmanuel! God with us! Let the Lord give us courage and strength. Happy Chirstmas! Halleluya!
Fr. Joseph Pandiappallil MCBS