As Christmas rolls around there are people who get caught up in what I consider a useless debate as to whether Jesus was born on December 25. The date in relation to the essential reason for his birth is as irrelevant as butter is to the Sahara Desert. Jesus was no more born on December 25 than Caesar Augustus was born on the 24th or Herod, for that matter, on the 23rd. Just like arguments for the existence of God, we tend to get bogged down in matters which we will never resolve or come to a common mind on in a lifetime. While we do this, important discussions are sidelined such as the relevance of the Christ child to the existential realities that people face in their lives.

Luke, with his eyes for details as a doctor, locates the historical, political and even economic context in which Jesus was born. Caesar Augustus was emperor of Rome; Quirinius, not any of the Assads, was Governor of Syria; Herod was Tetrarch of Galilee; the registration of people to ensure that Caesar got his taxes from his far-flung empire was in full swing. It was in this context that Joseph journeyed with his betrothed Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be in full compliance with Caesar’s edict (Luke 2: 4-5). It never ceases to amaze me how easily people will readily dismiss the account of Jesus’s nativity as myth, but have no problem vouching for the existence of Caesar, Herod, and others who were critical personages in the Christmas narrative.

In Bethlehem, the young couple could not find any place where the Saviour of the world could be born. Bethlehem, the city of David, was thick with people — no doubt attending to the need for registration that had driven Joseph there. They had to finally settle for an animal stall, commonly called a manger. There, among the animals, Jesus, Emmanuel, God with us, as the angel had promised Mary, was born. One cannot escape the humble circumstances of His birth. We do not have to romanticise the fact that he was born among the lowly four-legged creatures. It will titillate PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) that the Son of God was born thus, but we do not have to go overboard here.

There was no herald from the king’s palace to proclaim His birth. Continuing the humility theme, the announcement of the birth was made to poor shepherds as they huddled together in the Judean cold keeping faithful watch over their sheep. The message of the angel was unmistakable: “Do not be afraid for a Saviour, Christ the Lord, was born in Bethlehem… there should be peace, goodwill among all people,” a version declares.

This is the basis of the Christian celebration of Christmas. The people who have sat in darkness have now seen a great light. The people who continue to sit in darkness of whatever kind can have hope for the Light of the world has come, full of grace and truth. The salvation that He brought would be open to everyone who would accept the free gift of Himself that was being offered. There is an important and interesting meeting point between Bethlehem (the manger) and Jerusalem (Calvary). Here John 3: 16 takes on consummate significance: God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.

There would be no favouritism with Him; the message of peace meant that God was no longer angry with us; the enmity between God and man would end at the cross. This would now set the foundation for goodwill among all people, whatever their persuasion or station in life.

It is this message of peace and goodwill, of love and respect for each other — however different they are from us — that the Christian Church must be concerned with at this time. Useless debates about the appropriateness of dates are just that: useless.

So, too, I believe, is condemnation of the commercialisation of Christmas. In an earlier era I too was concerned as a priest about this and would preach reams of sermons about it. But as I grew older and hopefully wiser, I got to realise that such condemnation was in vain and that people were going to have a great time and they could not care two hoots what a hooting preacher wanted to say about it. Commercialisation can do no harm to the essential message of the Christmas story. Neither can dates nor times.

The fact is that Christmas is that one time of the year that people save up and plan for. It is indeed a fitting end to what could be a year of tumultuous events in people’s lives. The festivity and merriment of this season cannot be understated, and neither should it be undermined by religious scrooges who would want to “scrooge” it up for others, especially for the children. Most Jamaican homes may not have chimneys down which Santa can come, but the eyes of our children brighten when they receive their gifts. Never mind that there is no snow either. The north coast highway will do just fine.

The so-called commercialisation of Christmas is exactly what it is and perhaps ought to be. On the night that Jesus was born, Bethlehem was abuzz with activities as people sought to find places to stay. You can bet that merchants did a rollicking business as money, goods and services were exchanged. One does not have to take things to the extreme and behave in untoward ways. There is no need to drink a whole bottle of J Wray’s finest, or attempt to eat a whole hog simply because you think you have the appetite. Not only will your stomach grumble and complain, but January is coming when the debts will have to be reckoned with.

God will not be angry with you because you set out to have a good time. God is not as foolish as many of us make Him out to be. He is more tolerant than religious zealots allow, and more humble than Donald Trump would allow. I know I am going to get a lot of e-mail from religious folks to say this, but it must be said that too often religious fundamentalists obsess about things that do not concern them or that they cannot do anything about. I get the feeling that God simply laughs at many of the things about which we as his creation get uptight. We need to loosen up a bit and be less anxious about life.

So let down your hair and have fun, but do not trespass on the rights of your neighbour as you keep your parties or drive on the roads. Show some love and concern for the ones in need. By so doing you will fulfil the mind of the one to whom we give honour at Christmas. A merry and fun-filled Christmas to you, my dear readers.

Dr RaulstonNembhard is a priest and social commentator. Send comments to the Observer orstead6655@aol.com.