I’m sure many of you are familiar with Charles Dicken’s classic 1843 novel, A Christmas Carol, that speaks about Ebenezer Scrooge, the cold-hearted, tight-fisted and greedy man, who hates Christmas and all the things that give happiness to it. Now I saw the film and not the book. Who reads the book when there is a movie?
The first time I saw Ebenezer Scrooge saying, “Bah, humbug!” I tried to identify all the stingy and cheap people in my life. I immediately thought of some of my aunts and uncles who only have me 5,000 won instead of the expected 10,000 won during Lunar New Year. Also I began to think about the lady at church who only gave me one spoonful of rice when I obviously could eat four or five. And of course, I instantly remembered a scene of my mom paying the cashier at Target in pennies and nickels.
Of course, all these people were not cheapskates or money-hoarders, but as I began to look at this Christmas and this passage, I couldn’t help but notice that the same spirit of Ebenezer Scrooge, the cold-hearted, tight-fisted and greedy man, could come in our lives if we aren’t careful and vigilant. There is a natural inclination within all of us, young and old, children and retirees, to be generous in giving our love to others.
Today’s passage speaks about such generosity and grace. One English versions reads, “For you know the generosity of our Lord Jesus Christ who—for your sakes and though he was wealthy—became poor, so that you by that poverty might become wealthy.” More specifically, it is speaking about the love that Christ showed when he choose to become a man. Now my meditation today is rather simple: Christ chose to become poor, so that we may become rich.
If we truly understand who Christ is, that through him all things were made. There is not a galaxy in the universe that has come into existence without him. Also Jesus has absolute power and infinite knowledge. The scriptures say that all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are in Him.
If anyone of us is humble, (we aren’t very humble, if you think you are humble, then you probably not there yet.) but if any of us has made any progress in humility at all, it is because we are finite, fallible, and sinful. Jesus Christ had none yet he walked in humility. The biggest difference we see with Christ in the coming as a baby is that he chose to humble himself for our sake. His humility was chosen. He chose to be lowly, he chose to be servant, and he chose to be obedient unto death.
This Christmas, it is my sincere hope that Christ’s example of humility and love becomes apart of who we are. Let us like Christ choose the road of humility and generosity even though it requires sacrifice and suffering. Let us like Christ embrace love over the self-seeking spirit of Ebenezer Scrooge. This Christmas, let us truly bring the true meaning of Christmas, the generosity of Christ, home into our hearts. May we truly experience Christmas the way it was meant to be. Have a blessed Merry Christmas!
