Birth, death and resurrection were always recurring themes in the mythological accounts of the Middle East. No doubt this happened because they overlap with the queries about his/her own existence which came to the surface ever since man became an animal that could reflect and think.
Christmas marks a very essential development within these mythologies: the birth not of a man who would become god, but of a god who wanted to become human... which is what Christian belief is about. And this happens intentionally because the divine aim was to be the salvation of the human race. No mythological (or true) account had previously followed this course.
Above all, the episode happened – we are told – in historic time and no longer in an era when human beings were not quite so sure in their minds regarding how the story of the tribe to which they belonged had evolved and was evolving. Since historic time had entered in play, the accounts of what had taken place were not (and could not be) set out in fabulous terms.
Along with other factors, this gave Christmas the impetus which activated the commitment of so many billions of people.
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HALF FULL
Throughout the year, it is appropriate that the analyses made of current affairs come across as being critical, sometimes very, of current affairs. It would be just too bad if this did not happen for we would then be trapped in political and social mediocrity and complacency.
Actually, that is what democracy stands for: in the contrast between political parties, in the transparency of information and in the full freedom of public expression, the governance of the country is prevented from getting stuck in the mud of irresponsibility. As facts become known, judgements can then be made to consider what is being done right, what wrong.
True, what’s wrong always makes a bigger impact on public opinion. The news it generates arouses more interest than stories about what is being done right. Sometimes, this tendency leads to exaggeration. One begins to believe that the glass is totally empty when it is also frequently true that it is only half so. But equally, it is half full.
Perhaps at Christmas time it is permissible to show more optimism about what is going on. There is nothing wrong with expressing as well – without in any way trying to bamboozle anybody – something that also happens to be true: the glass is half full.
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PRECEPTS
They have been utilised on various occasions for “political” reasons. I did it too, a long time ago, following in the tracks of Mrs Thatcher of all people! Even so, the precepts laid out by Saint Francis in his prayer to the Lord, remain valid and powerful. That they be again repeated in these days of joy (and barbarism, as the killings in Palestine and the Ukraine continue) makes a lot of sense.
Here is what Francis prayed: Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy.
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A Merry Christmas to the staff and readers of The Malta Independent and their families.