“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (Jn 1:1, 14). It is therefore fitting to say: From the beginning, there is relationship and relationship is what builds humanity. This is what Christmas is all about. Christmas becomes real not merely when we celebrate it, but when we allow ourselves to step into the nativity scene through humility, care, and love. When we do our simple, humble tasks and place them before God, we begin to discover who we truly are and to whom we belong. As Jean-Paul Sartre notes, ‘Existence precedes essence.’ Indeed, the human person becomes what he chooses to make of himself.
All about relationship
Paul Ricoeur says, “We live thanks to the other.” It is relationship that defines life and gives it meaning. None of us exists alone; we are always and everywhere in relation to others. We cannot live fully without nurturing human relationships. God was born as a man on this earth to reaffirm the value of human relationships – of caring for others, of generosity and the spirit of giving, and of the beauty of compassion. The divine gaze of the Father upon humanity is what gave us Emmanuel (Mt 1:23). Thus, God created the human person for relationships. What oxygen is to the body, relationship is to the soul. We die when we are isolated; we live when we are loved and seen. It is only in the gaze of another that we truly see ourselves, for our existence finds meaning in being recognized by that gaze.
We are born as nothing, and only through our choices and actions do we define ourselves and create our own meaning. In this sense, to be alive and to feel alive, we must learn the art of loving. How? The African Ubuntu culture offers us profound insight: “A person is a person through other people.” Put simply, I am because of you. Our identity emerges from being seen and acknowledged by others. This is beautifully expressed in their greeting. The equivalent of “hello” is Sawubona, which means, “I see you.” The response is Sikhona, meaning, “I am here.” The philosophy behind this is deeply meaningful: until you see and recognize me, I am not fully here.
Christmas – God’s ‘Sawubona’ in Action
On that holy night when heaven touched the earth, the word God spoke to humanity was Sawubona – “I see you.” He did not pass us by as a distant God, a king on a throne. Instead, He came into our hearts as a child, the embodiment of simplicity. In the cold of a stable, amidst the scent of hay and a mother’s embrace, when His eyes opened, that gaze was the first divine recognition bestowed upon humanity. That is the true meaning of Emmanuel – “God is with us.” Christmas is a divine embrace in which God calls every soul languishing in the darkness of loneliness by name, saying, “I see you. You are not alone. I am here.”
In the story of the Chinese philosopher Mencius, the king, upon seeing the frightened eyes of a calf being led to sacrifice, ordered it to be saved. When asked for the reason, he said, “I looked it in the face and met its eyes.” Meeting the gaze of another moves us to compassion. This is the true meaning of the celebration of Christmas. Seeing the face of the child Jesus should inspire us to see the faces of those around us. When we meet the eyes of the ignored, the lonely, and those in tears, compassion is born within us. That is the essence of the celebration.
As the Italian poet Lanza del Vasto says, “I love, therefore you are.” Let this Christmas be more than an occasion of exchanging gifts or filling time. May it become a celebration of authentic relationships and genuine human presence. Embrace the spirit of the season by being generous with what matters most – your attention, your kindness, and your presence. Reach out to someone who may be carrying silence or loneliness. Share a meal, a smile, or a gentle word. Often, the simplest gestures carry the greatest meaning. May this Christmas be a moment where hearts truly meet, a space where compassion awakens, and a feast where relationships deepen. Let us greet one another with the spirit of Sawubona – “I see you.” And may the response arise freely from within: Sikhona – “Here I am.” Merry Christmas to all!
M. Titus Mohan, from the diocese of Kuzhithurai, now pursues his Doctoral research in Moral Theology, Milan.