Busy shoppers were given pause for thought by children in Kildare, Dublin, Limerick and Newry over the past week.The youngsters aged 5-12 and their parents challenged the prevalent ‘shop till you drop’ culture by offering models of baby Jesus with a message about the true meaning of Christmas in shopping centres.
The groups of children have been busy for several weeks making the plaster cast statues of Jesus (pictured) and preparing the Christmas message entitled They Have Evicted Jesus.
Written by Chiara Lubich, founder of Focolare, it says: "It is hurtful to experience the way people cling to Christmas as a season, but reject the child born at Christmas. So we must at least let it be seen in our homes who was born on Christmas day. Let us celebrate His coming as never before."
Last night a group of youngsters from Newbridge, Prosperous and Maynooth were offering the models of Baby Jesus to shoppers at Newbridge Shopping Centre.
The day before, young Dubliners were asking people to “Bring Baby Jesus” home for Christmas at the Nutgrove Shopping Centre, while a group from Belfast offered the beautiful models to people at the Quays Shopping Centre in Newry last weekend.
Donations for the little statues are passed on to children in less developed countries, thus promoting a ‘culture of giving’ at Christmas, rather than receiving.
The children and their parents are involved in the Focolare and are among thousands of others all over the world who are involved in this action every year to highlight the true meaning of Christmas.
Accompanying the statues of baby Jesus is this message:
They have evicted Jesus
Our rich world has claimed Christmas for itself and has evicted Jesus.
Christmas has become a poetic fantasy, a friendly atmosphere, an exchange of gifts, a symbol of light, stars and carols, a boom in the sale of luxury goods.
And who thinks of Jesus? He came to his own home,
but his own people did not receive him .
There was no place for him in the inn not even at Christmas.
I would like to found a business that would publicise the real meaning of Christmas.
I would like to print the most beautiful cards.
I would produce statues in the most tasteful art.
I would record poems and songs, past and present.
I would illustrate books for children and adults.
I would write scripts for films and plays.
It is hurtful to experience the way people cling to Christmas as a season
but reject the child
born at Christmas.
So we must at least let it be seen in our homes
who was born on Christmas day.
Let us celebrate his coming as never before.
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