Neither arrogance nor complexes

For years now Christmas has been becoming more secularized. It’s a fact of life. In our de-christianized society, this festivity is undergoing a consequent decline. Cribs are disappearing, replaced by garlands and Christmas trees. And Santa Claus is acquiring ever-greater popularity. But this year, in an even more authoritarian way, and especially in England, but also in Spain, in Italy and elsewhere, we are being told that everything that could remind us, even slightly, of the religious origin of this festivity must be banned, with the pretext of the need to respect others. We ought not, they insist, to impose our Judeo-Christian civilization on those who have chosen our country as a refuge. So, to better welcome them into our midst, forget who you are! But who spoke of imposition? Has not Ramadan become obligatory because every year the mass media speak of it more than they do of Lent? Is it necessary to believe that Jesus is the Son of God for a woman to wear a little cross round her neck? And, while we’re at it, with what right do we impose monogamous marriage on those who have a different tradition? Perhaps we will also have to re-baptize (excuse the word!) the cities, towns and districts that are named after saints? When people begin to say everything, where do they stop? Will we now discipline culture by force of decrees and internal regulations? At least this space of freedom is still left to us… May we still be permitted to be ourselves, “without arrogance and without complexes”, as Cardinal Danneels said on the occasion of the Feast of All Saints this year! And may I still be permitted to believe that, in a world devoid of points of reference and of values, the Gospel still has something to say! Christmas is not expressed in tinsel and coloured lights. The humanistic and religious message of the prophet of Nazareth continues to appeal to all cultures. It is undoubtedly this that St. Matthew wished to make us understand by telling the story of the wise men who came from afar to prostrate themselves in front of the child in the manger. Tradition, well inspired, made one of them a European, the second an Oriental and the third an African.Globalization is not only capitalist. It too is an exchange of what is best in our cultures… May Christmas 2006 lead us back to what is essential! And I wish everyone a good, holy and happy New Year!