Santa Claus and his reindeers seemed to be pushed aside by some kind of unexpected force.
Even the Christmas movies that usually come around at this time of the year seem to lose their attraction to what seems like the season’s contradiction.
So much so that even a song that is usually associated with Christmas had some of its lyrics changed to accommodate this craze.
We know how the song “Santa Claus is coming to town” goes.
Well, the lyrics have been altered to go like this: “You better not shout, you better not cry, you better not call on Yoda’s Jedi, the Empire is coming to town” : )
If you are still wondering what this is all about, then you may have at least heard of “Star Wars: The Force awakens”
And what a force it had on this Christmas season. Children are clamoring for Star Wars paraphernalia like Darth Vader’s mask and the Stormtrooper’s helmet and lightsabers and whatever.
So by now Star Wars is not just about a movie or about a series of sequels and prequels.
It has generated into a merchandise of toys and fashion and whatever imaginable that can generate money.
But come to think of it, the title “Star Wars” may not be a star causing a lot of wars but more like many stars at war.
Because everyone wants to be a star and because there are too many stars and hence there are “stars war” and not “star wars”.
It’s just a matter of switching the plural nouns around and we will understand why there is so much tension in the world and why so many wars are happening.
Everyone wants to be the brightest star, the highest star, the biggest star.
But Christmas reminds of one thing – it all began with one star.
It was a star that brought good news, a star that attracted the wise men to seek for a divine revelation, a star that pointed to the love of God in the form of a baby born in a manger.
As we celebrate the birth of our Saviour, we must be able to recognize who is the real star of the Christmas season.
It is not about the theme song of “Star Wars” but “O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie”; it is not about “a long long time ago in a galaxy far far away” but “a long long time ago in Galilee far far away”; it is not about “the force awakens” but “a new hope awakens”.
It is about Jesus, the Word of God made flesh, the long awaited Saviour born to us and fulfilling the promise of God to save us.
Jesus is the Star of the Christmas season, the Prince-of-Peace, the Saviour born in Bethlehem who is Christ the Lord.
It is only in Him that we will find peace and then the wars in our hearts will be put to rest.
And if we want to be stars, then let us be like that star that pointed out to the wise men where the infant King was born.
Let us stars of peace and not stars of war.