• Fr. Roy Alex, SJ

December evokes the enchanting sight of twinkling stars hanging in front of the homes and the grand glowing stars adorning the church premises. It is a tradition in Kerala to hang the stars in front of homes as early as the first of December, signaling the start of the joyful Christmas season. However, this year, as I stay in Sri Lanka for a program, I missed this familiar sight of stars adorning Catholic homes during the first week of December. Though I missed the vibrant display of colourful stars that adorn the houses and shops during this festive season, I met some people who embody the essence of star in the lives of others. They are a group of sisters from the SCJM (Sisters of Charity of Jesus and Mary) congregation, dedicating their lives to caring for elderly people who have no one else to look after them. Just like the star of Bethlehem guided the wise men to Christ, these sisters light up the lives of the elderly people with love, care and selfless service.

I met them at an old-age home in the Mannar district of Sri Lanka where I assisted them for one month as part of my tertianship programme. I joined them with a sense of apprehension, but I was moved by the quiet and loving way these sisters served the elderly. With unwavering commitment and care, the sisters transform the lives of the elderly, offering them comfort, hope and the warmth of a loving presence. The sisters remind me that true stars are not just decorations in the night sky but people who can lighten up the darkest corners of someone else’s life.

As we celebrate the spirit of selflessness in Christmas, we are invited to shift our perspectives and embrace the joy found in selfless generosity. It could be as simple as spending time with people who are lonely, sharing a meal with neighbour in need, or encouraging someone with kind words. We need to make use of the opportunities to pour into the lives of others, remembering that every act of kindness illuminates the world and brings immeasurable joy to the people around us.

The ninety-three-year-old Rajappan Annan shared with me in his Sri Lankan Tamil, “These sisters care for us with such love and devotion of a mother.” One day, Rajappan Annan was too tired and unable to come to the refectory. He stayed in his room and I saw a sister tenderly feeding him biscuits, just as one would feed a small child.  She remained with him until he finished the last biscuit in the packet-a simple yet profound act of love.  Mother Teresa once said, “It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you.” My experience with SCJM sisters in the home for the elderly reminded me that the true spirit of Christmas goes beyond the traditions and decorations. It comes alive in acts of kindness and in bringing joy to others. Every smile we share, every moment of patience in our daily interactions, and every gesture of care and compassion radiates the essence of Christmas.

Christmas invites us to reflect on the greatest gift ever given to humanity by God in the form of his son, Jesus Christ: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16). Christmas is a celebration of this incredible act of love- a gift not wrapped in paper but in humanity itself. A gift that brings hope and salvation to the people. The tradition of giving gifts likely began with God, who gave the ultimate gift to humanity-His son. It was a gift wrapped with God’s unconditional love for humanity. Commemorating this greatest gift that humanity has ever received, we started exchanging gifts as part of Christmas celebrations. Exchanging gifts is a way of showing how much we love and care for our dear ones. We all enjoy both giving and receiving gifts.

A boy from a poor family wanted to give a Christmas gift to one of his close friends as part of a Christmas gift exchange. He asked his parents for some money to buy the gift, but they couldn’t afford it due to financial constraints. However, on the day of the exchange, his mother handed him a simple package wrapped in a cloth and tied with a red ribbon. With a gentle smile, she said, “This is a special gift—give it with a smile.” Inside the package was a Christmas cake, that their neighbour had gifted them for the Christmas celebrations. Unaware of what had happened, the boy asked his mother for the cake on Christmas day. With a gentle smile, she told him, “The Christmas gift you gave to your friend was our cake.” Though the boy felt a tinge of sadness, the mother consoled him, saying, “We must find joy in love and sacrifice of giving.”

As we compete to give the most valuable Christmas gifts, the value of the gift should not be measured by the material value of a gift but by the love and thoughtfulness behind it. The ultimate Christmas gift is Christ Himself—a gift wrapped in infinite love. Like the boy and mother, we must strive to wrap our gifts not just in ribbons and colourful paper but in kindness, thoughtfulness and selfless love.

While we enjoy giving and receiving tangible presents, Christmas invites us to consider a deeper question: Why don’t we choose to make our lives a gift to those around us? Instead of simply giving material things, we could give our time, our talents, and our love to others in meaningful ways- just like the sisters who dedicate their lives for the poor people in the old age home. Saint Mother Teresa who made her life a living gift to the poor and downtrodden, once said, “It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.” She profoundly reminds us that the most precious gifts are not measured in material value but in the selfless love and care we offer to others. Saint Francis of Assisi, captured the essence of generosity in his prayer: “It is in giving that we receive”. This prayer reflects the paradox of life- that the more we offer of ourselves to others, the more our own hearts are filled with joy and meaning.

Our Christmas celebrations should go beyond the material gifts, decorations and festive gatherings to become meaningful and spiritual moments where we shine as stars in the lives of others and offer ourselves as a gift to the world. In Gaudium et Spes, encapsulates the essence of Christmas with these beautiful words: “Man cannot fully find himself except through a sincere gift of himself.” In living this truth, we meaningfully honour the greatest gift of all-Jesus Christ by giving ourselves with love and generosity.