It is ok not to feel jolly

I don’t like this time of the year. You might be surprised and wondering WHY? From my experience, by mid-November most people are tired, stressed and edgy which results in tensions among the family members and workmates. At schools teachers are running out of energy and students are dropping focus and motivation to study. Little children are often restless and demanding. Some older people depressed and lonely. The end of the year also comes with financial struggle for many concerning expenses of Christmas festivities and summer holidays. And if this is not enough: the oven, fridge, washing machine or car (you name it) tend to get broken at the least convenient time.

DOES THIS SOUND FAMILIAR?

Last Sunday I opened my Bible and read the story about the birth of Jesus. There are actually very few facts about this event described in the Scripture. In my imagination, I added some details which I believe had happened and this is what I saw:

Mary – a teenage Jewish girl, engaged to Joseph. She just visited her auntie who was also expecting the baby in a very mature age. They spent few months together, Mary helped her with many household tasks as Elizabeth gave birth to a son. Mary learnt how to handle the labor and look after the baby. Upon her return, the people from Nazareth village noticed that she was pregnant and thought that she betrayed Joseph, her “husband to be”. They had an argument. Mary was trying to explain to Joseph that she has been faithful to him and that the Angel visited her before she felt pregnant and told her not to worry.

Joseph – carpenter by trade. He worked hard to provide for his “wife to be”. He was shocked finding out that Mary was expecting. But he loved her and did not want her to face the death penalty for unfaithfulness. He wanted her to be honest about what happened and could not believe Mary’s story about getting pregnant after the visit from an Angel. The whole story did not make sense to him. Tired of arguing he fell asleep in his workshop. In his dream he heard voice of God telling him to believe Mary and to take care of the Baby: the Son of God. He woke up, still in shock, but made peace with Mary and promised that He will take care of their family.

And we all know what happened next:

Mary and Joseph soon had to go for a 100 km journey to fulfil the obligation of compulsory census. There was no place to stay, no decent place to give birth to the child, There were stars on the sky, strange visit to Baby Jesus from VIP people from abroad (some people called them Magi, others – Kings). The story of Jesus continues with the necessity to escape to Egypt, hidden years in Nazareth, the death on the cross…WHAT A CRAZY LIFE!

As I look at the life of the Holy Family and compare it with our lives TODAY, I feel that they would understand why many people don’t feel jolly during Christmas season as they themselves went through so much.

It is ok not to be jolly.

Because HOPE and JOY come at different times, shapes and form, not necessarily according to the dates in the calendar. And it does not in any way undermine the importance of the day when “the Word became flesh”. Jesus becoming man was a game changer for all of us. His humanity gave us hope, his earthly life in the real family gave reassurance to our families. So, this year:

1. if the argument occurs during setting up a Christmas tree,

2. if the children misbehave despite promises to be good,

3. if suddenly your car breaks down in a busy intersection,

4. if…. You name it!….

Don’t lose heart.

Facing so many challenges in their lives, maybe Mary and Joseph were not supper jolly either at times, but focusing on baby Jesus in their hearts, kept them going with hope.

And this is my wish for you: that Christ will be born in your heart once again and give you joy and hope like no one else can – at His own time.

“It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you. It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you… yes, it is Christmas every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand. The coming of Jesus at Bethlehem brought joy to the world and to every human heart.” (Saint Teresa of Calcutta)

With prayer for your family,

Sr Grace