Editor’s note: Rebecca Arcuri, of Wildwood, shares her thought’s about the Herald’s cover painting. Arcuri attends Wildwood Catholic Academy, where she is a member of the National Honor Society, student council and tennis team. She also is a Eucharistic minister for the parish of Notre Dame de la Mer.
Amid the business of the holiday season it’s common to forget the reason we celebrate Christmas. Today, the commercialization of Christmas often overshadows its true meaning. The material aspects of Christmas divert attention from the birth of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
One beautiful reminder of the reason for this hectic holiday season is portrayed in “The Nativity With Donors and Sts. Jerome and Leonard” by Gerard David, a triptych whose center panel is on the cover of today’s edition and which is on display at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 636.
The significance of David’s painting lies in the people surrounding the baby Jesus’ manger. Instead of smiling and expressing joy, Joseph and Mary, as well as the angels and shepherds, look somber. Despite the birth of Our Lord, the most celebratory moment in history, their expressions reflect the foreshadowing of his suffering and crucifixion. Their faces indicate the importance of Jesus being born to die for our sins and give us the gift of eternal life.
Jesus’ sacrifice is not insignificant. We often hear how he was crucified and died for us, and as a society, we have become too comfortable with what this means. Jesus Christ was born fully divine and fully human. He performed miracles. He healed, he taught, and he was ridiculed constantly.
Jesus died hanging on a cross for us. Knowing that we, with the free will he gave us, might never accept him or even believe in him. The birth of Jesus should not be taken lightly.
My family has always focused on the religious aspect of the holiday season. As a young child, learning about my Catholic faith by celebrating Advent and awaiting the birth of Jesus rather than receiving gifts laid the foundation for my understanding and love of Christ and the sacrifice he made for us. I was personally never told to believe in “Santa,” and I was taught to focus on giving rather than receiving. This has only brought me closer to God and deeper in my faith.
It’s crucial to remember why we celebrate Christmas. The love, hope and redemption that Jesus’ birth represents is the core message of this holiday season. Instead of telling their kids that Santa exists, parents should teach their children what this holiday really means.
Our society has to focus on the gift of eternal life God has given us through Jesus. By embracing the spiritual essence of Christmas, we can find a deeper sense of peace and unity with God, and truly honor the sacred origin of Christmas.
