What’s the reason for Christmas?

Well, over 2,000 years ago, something special happened.

A very remarkable individual was born.

His arrival was a profound moment for humanity.

This event was so significant that our entire history had to be divided into two halves: B.C and A.D. Here’s why it matters:

  • B.C., quite simply, stands for ‘Before Christ’.
  • Meanwhile, A.D. stands for ‘Anno Domini’. This is Latin, which means ‘In the Year of the Lord’.
  • So, put B.C. and A.D. together. You will see how these two halves fit together with poetic perfection — mankind’s struggle before Jesus Christ arrived, and mankind’s transcendence after Jesus Christ arrived.

 

Renaissance-style montage depicting the life of Jesus Christ.
Source: Image generated by OpenAI’s DALL-E

 

Maybe you believe in the divine providence of this Christmas season. Or maybe you believe this is a secular holiday with pagan roots. Opinions may vary:

  • Still, it’s impossible to discount the far-reaching impact that Jesus has had on our world.
  • His life, his message, his miracles — they have shaped Western civilisation, laying the building blocks for our ideas about human morality and dignity.

For me, the most compelling lesson of Jesus may well be the Sermon on the Mount. It goes like this:

‘But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.’

However, if you’re feeling cynical, you might say, ‘So what? All this is easier said than done.’

  • Why, yes, indeed. You might have a point. We do live in a world filled with tribal division and culture war; vengeance and retribution; fanaticism and dogma.
  • Certainly, history isn’t pretty. From the Crusades to the Inquisition, from the Holocaust to the War on Terror — rivers of blood have been shed over differences of religious doctrine.
  • The message from extremists, more often than not, is this: ‘You should do unto others *before* they do unto you.’

This is sad. However, let’s look beyond human frailty. Let’s look beyond flawed dogma. The great singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen was Jewish, but he had something perceptive to say about the grace of Jesus:

‘I’m very fond of Jesus Christ. He may be the most beautiful guy who walked the face of this earth. Any guy who says blessed are the poor, blessed are the meek has got to be a figure of unparalleled generosity and insight and madness.

‘A man who declared himself to stand among the thieves, the prostitutes and the homeless. His position cannot be comprehended. It is an inhuman generosity. A generosity that would overthrow the world if it was embraced because nothing would weather that compassion.

‘I’m not trying to alter the Jewish view of Jesus Christ. But to me, in spite of what I know about the history of legal Christianity, the figure of the man has touched me.’

These are such elegant, thoughtful words. And they are so true, aren’t they?

  • Yes, the history of the world is the history of heartbreak, anguish, and disaster. But we shouldn’t forget: the history of the world is also the history of forgiveness, redemption, and resurrection.
  • Here at Wealth Morning, we write a lot about value investing and financial freedom. We are deeply passionate about these matters. But we are also just as passionate about exploring the fabric of our shared human experience.
  • Indeed, as we reflect on the journey that we’ve travelled this past year, we will reminisce about the problems we’ve had to solve; the challenges that we’ve had to overcome. And we will remember that no matter how tough things get, grace is always within our reach. Grace will see us through.

So, in that spirit of hope, I want to wish you and yours a blessed Christmas:

  • Good tidings. Shalom. Peace unto you. May the original message of Jesus about compassion and generosity prevail in your household, your family, your community.
  • Let us never forget: the shared experiences that bind us are far stronger than the ideas that divide us.

 

Regards,

John Ling

Analyst, Wealth Morning