UNVEILING THE SUPERNATURAL AND POLITICAL NUANCES IN CHRISTMAS SONG

 

Ber na ('tis December), goes the Filipino folksy nostalgic line.

As the winter month rolls in, the surroundings transform into a snowy paradise, and the air fills with the enchanting melodies of Christmas songs. These timeless tunes evoke memories of cozy firesides, twinkling lights, and the joyous anticipation of the holiday season. Among these beloved classics, one song stands out as a perennial favorite, capturing the hearts of generations: White Christmas.

Imagine the scene: snowflakes gently falling, blanketing the earth in a pristine layer of white, while the soothing voice serenades us with dreams of a snowy holiday. Let me guess – could White Christmas be your favorite too?

If so, your copy of the song might be among the over 50 million versions sung by Bing Crosby that have sold worldwide. When considering other renditions, sales of White Christmas exceed 100 million, making it the best-selling Christmas song of all time, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Did you know that White Christmas has a poignant backstory? According to a Country Living article, the song was written by Irving Berlin, a Russian-born immigrant who did not celebrate Christmas, as he was Jewish. Taysha Murtaugh reveals that Berlin’s three-week-old son had tragically died on Christmas day in 1928. Every year on December 25, Berlin and his wife visited their baby’s grave. The deep, underlying sorrow of the song may reflect Berlin’s melancholy over his son’s death.

In contrast, Mary, Did You Know? has emerged as a modern Christmas classic. This song, addressing Mary, the mother of Jesus, evolved from a series of questions that writer Mark Lowry scripted for a Christmas program at his church. Lowry pondered the questions he would ask Mary if he could sit down and have coffee with her, as depicted in the song’s opening lines.

 

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy will one day walk on water?

Mary, did you know

That your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?

Did you know that your baby boy had come to make you new?

This child that you’ve delivered will soon deliver you.

Though the song leaves these questions unanswered, it invites contemplation of the profound relationship between Mary and her son, even if her faith and awareness did not yet encompass the details of what would unfold.

The song has sparked both criticism and praise. Criticizing for perceived ambiguity, some have labeled it the most sexist Christmas song ever written. Praising for reflecting the love of God, others see it as a beautiful expression of His love for humanity. Rather than a theological essay, it uses rhetorical questions to create poetry.

The row emanates, as expected, from the song’s transcendence beyond the natural limits of the human mind, venturing into the enigmatic realm of the supernatural.

Even Joseph, at first, must have been struck dumb. Who wouldn’t be, as powerfully depicted in this poignant scene from the play When Mary Tells Joseph:

Mary: [Taking a deep breath, walking over to Joseph.] "Joseph, I have something important to tell you. I am pregnant."

Joseph: [Astounded] "What?" [His face contorts with a myriad of emotions: disbelief, amazement, and above all, anger. He recoils from Mary, pacing the stage in turmoil. Running a hand through his hair, he finally returns to her.] "Pregnant? You? Who has done this to you? Who has defiled you?"

Mary: "No man has defiled me. No one has raped me. I am still a virgin."

Joseph: [Loudly, his anger rising.] "But how can you be pregnant?"

 As the Catholic Daily Reflection insightfully notes:

“Animals have the natural gift of instinct. They know how to survive, how to reproduce, how to gather food, and how to avoid danger… a bird knows to fly south for the winter or a salmon knows to return to its place of birth to lay its eggs.”

As humans, we possess natural instincts, much like animals. However, these instincts alone only allow us to achieve what animals can. To acquire greater knowledge and prepare ourselves for the sudden and unexpected advent of Christ (Mary’s baby boy), we need something beyond natural instincts – a supernatural gift of discernment.

To practically illustrate the essence of such a discernment, consider the political situation that has been buffeting our country. Over three years ago, in my August 28, 2021 ATABAY article What Do I See? Looking At Things Differently With Spiritual Eyeglasses, I wrote:

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The Future

Question: Why did God give PH, the Light of Asia (Pope John Paul II prayer) a ruler who insulted Pope Francis and called God stupid?

Answer: “[God] PUNISHED [His people] by delivering them to their attackers…” (2 Kings 17:20, emphasis mine); “When God wants to judge a nation, He gives them wicked rulers.” (John Calvin). Cardinal Sin affirmed Calvin’s assertion with Marcos and his Martial Law as Exhibit A. Thus, to punish, God has given PH such a kind of ruler today.

Why? One in four Pinoys is below the poverty line. PH, for [supposedly] being the Light of Asia, has angered God as HE was with Sodom that “DID NOT HELP THE POOR.” (Ezekiel 16:49, emphasis mine)

What will happen in the next [2022] election? If God is still angry, He will give us another Punisher. Time Magazine’s cover of our ruler’s image labeled as The Punisher has captured the whole essence of this insight.

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Three days before the presidential election on May 9, 2022, I raised the following question:

“On May 9, will God be still angry, or will His anger turn into mercy?"

Scriptural Basis: “If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves, and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sins and I will heal their land.” (2 Chronicle 7:14)

On May 9, Filipinos voted for Bongbong Marcos Jr. as the president. In doing so, had the Filipino people humbled themselves, prayed, sought God’s face, and turned from their wicked ways, bringing about His hearing from heaven, forgiving their sins, and healing their land?

Looking at the pathetic state of the Philippines today suggests a negative answer. Our country has come in full circle, bringing to fruition John Calvin’s forewarning about God: in wanting to judge a nation, “He will give them wicked rulers.” Cardinal Sin’s affirmation may hit two birds with one stone: “When God wants to punish a people, He gives them unjust rulers. Like Marcos [Sr.]” 

Is the dictator’s son also such a ruler?

One must possess a supernatural gift of discernment to answer this profoundly soul-stirring question -- akin to the enigma revolving around the birth of Jesus.

What better way to close this article than with the evocative opening lyrics of this heartfelt Christmas song:

Pasko na, sinta ko

Hanap, hanap kita

Bakit magtatampo't

Nilisan ako?

Content & editing put together in collaboration with Microsoft Bing AI-powered Co-pilot

Head collage photos courtesy of Canva, Pixabay & Depositphotos

Still photos courtesy of Dreamtime, Vecteezy, Peakpx