Advent is at hand and so is the market with its enticements as well as clickbaits. The corporate overlords are on toes to capitalize the season of Christmas. Since market economy thrives on the principle of scarcity, its flourishing becomes incumbent upon generating a sense of inadequacy in the people. It is this sense of inadequacy which impels many of us this festal season to go on a shopping spree and/or buy expensive gifts for each other to maintain the status quo. This is how the market dictates and disciplines our socio-economic relationships including our celebrations.
However the Church safeguards us from falling prey to this consumer culture by embracing Advent with the Nativity Fast. Practicing abstinence in the fray of consumerism is indeed a countercultural way of awaiting the birth of our Lord. Afer all as G.K. Chesterton remarks; “Christmas is built upon a beautiful and intentional paradox; that the birth of the homeless should be celebrated in every home.”
The Scripture testifies that “Our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich.” (2 Cor. 8:9). Origen writes; “Christ chose both a poor mother, from whom He was born and a poor homeland.” Syriac Christianity in particular, takes pride in this abject poverty of Christ and hence identifies Mary as the “Daughter of the poor” (Bo’utho Mor Jacob: Monday Night Vigil).
Therefore the true preparation of Christmas lies in our voluntary acceptance of poverty, sharing our resources to redeem the poverty of the systemically impoverished and challenging the structures that perpetuate poverty. We should never trade-off the reality of manger for the illusion of market.
~ 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐫𝐨𝐲𝐨 𝐅𝐫. 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐥
Urho, The Way 