AS early as late November, I began giving serious thought as to what I could possibly write about this year that would truly embody the infectious spirit of the Christmas season. I began by reflecting on some of the topics I would have already touched on in the past; topics like traditions, food, entertainment, toys and games. But nothing seemed to strike a chord; somehow, there was still something missing. Then it struck me! I’d never done anything before on the Christ Child; the whole nativity bit; the raison d’être of it all.

Having made up my mind, I decided to speak to Sr. Mary Peter Ngui, OSU (Ursuline Nuns of the Roman Union), and the following is what she had to say about the subject of Jesus’ humble birth in a lowly stable in faraway Bethlehem on a cold winter’s night:
“Christmas is coming! What memories this brings to my mind! When I was very little, Christmas meant nothing at all; we were not Catholics, but not very Christian either. So, Christmas meant only that school was closed, and my father did not have to go to work.
“Later, after my father died and we were adopted by the SVP (St Vincent de Paul Society), we would be taken to one or two parties where we could play games, eat special treats, and bring home presents.
“Then when I went to school at St. Rose’s, I learnt that Christmas was a time for giving presents; and we would bring a present for a child in a poor school. After that, I went on scholarship to an Ursuline boarding school in England. There, we had Midnight Mass and Christmas plays and carols… And COLD weather and snow.
“It was only after I entered the Convent and was introduced to the beautiful liturgy of Advent (By then also, I had discovered God as a real person, and had fallen in love with Jesus) that I began to understand what Christmas really means, and this season began to be very special and meaningful to me.
“Christmas is the day we celebrate the official birthday of Jesus. Nobody now knows the real date of Jesus’ birth (They did not have birth certificates in those days!); but we have chosen December 25 to honour Jesus’ birthday, just as the Queen of England celebrates an official birthday in June, although she was really born in April.
“In most families, when someone has a birthday, the other members of the family plan for it beforehand. They prepare special foods; invite friends to a party; buy or make gifts for the person; and try to think up ways to surprise the person or make him/her feel special.
“So, in the weeks before Christmas, I go over again the story of the Old Testament — the love story of God and his chosen people — and the promises God made to send a Saviour for them.
“Then, nearer the day, I look at how God chose to send His Son to save us, not as a powerful champion, but as a helpless baby in a backward village of one of the least important countries of the world, to show us that power is not important; that it can disappear in a jiffy, and it never satisfies. We are conquerors when we are honest and God-fearing and draw our strength from God himself.
“He chose to come as the weakest member of a poor family in a bare stable to show us that wealth and possessions are not what makes us worthwhile. Today we have, and tomorrow it can all crumble. We are rich when we have God’s love in our hearts, and we can rely on Him for all our needs.
“And so, at Christmastime, my greatest joy is to share with those who are not important; who have little to call their own; who have few friends, because they are the ones who are most like Jesus. And He said that what we do for them, He takes as being done for Him.
“And when your heart is free of the ambition to be powerful, and the desire to possess material things, you will find that simply exchanging gifts with friends and relatives gives you a precious freedom that is more satisfying than anything you can wish or hope for.
“I wish for all who read this the gift of God’s peace in your heart, and a special share of His joy as you celebrate His birth.”
Written By Neil Primus