Christmas Maintains the Spirit of Collective Recovery

Kompas

A woman wears a face covering as she passes a Christmas lights, in London, Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2021. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Monday that his government reserves the "possibility of taking further action" to protect public health as Omicron spreads across the country.

This year, Christmas is again celebrated in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, the spirit of Christmas should encourage the recovery of the Indonesian nation from the impact of the pandemic.

JAKARTA, KOMPAS — This year's Christmas celebration is an opportunity to continue efforts to recover from the Covid-19 pandemic. Collective work from all the people in the country is needed so that Indonesia rises up and escapes the impact of the pandemic.

The improvement in the pandemic situation can be seen from the increase in the number of people allowed to attend in-person worship services. Based on Circular No. 33/2021 issued by the Religious Affairs Ministry, the number of people worshiping in church can be 50 percent of capacity, an increase from only 20 percent in the previous year.

Love for Christ, he continued, was able to promote brotherhood and working together in facing the pandemic.

The chairman of the Indonesian Bishops' Conference, Cardinal Ignatius Suharyo, said that Christmas this year, which is celebrated under the theme "The Love of Christ that Promotes Brotherhood", should be used as an opportunity to express gratitude to God. Love for Christ, he continued, was able to promote brotherhood and working together in facing the pandemic.

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According to Cardinal Suharyo, apart from being grateful, the brotherhood of the Indonesian people should also be further promoted. The people are continually urged to open their hearts with the inspiration of the Christian faith, namely love, to support each other and help each other to get out of the Covid-19 pandemic as soon as possible, he said.

"It can be realized by taking care of others and turning our concern into real action and with our nation," Cardinal Suharyo said in Jakarta on Thursday (12/23/2021).

Kompas

A police officer checks the vaccination status of visitors during a patrol on a Christmas market in Vienna, Austria, Friday, Nov. 19, 2021. Austrian Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg says the country will go into a national lockdown to contain a fourth wave of coronavirus cases. Schallenberg said the lockdown will start Monday, Nov.22 , and initially last for 10 days.

The general secretary of the Indonesian Communion of Churches (PGI), Jacklevyn Frits Manuputty, contacted separately, said that, theologically, Christmas was always interpreted as an act of God's solidarity through the presence of Christ because he loved humans and loved the Earth. It was interpreted as the intervention of God's love in the midst of a fragile, sinful and suffering world, he added.

"This year, the confession of faith is placed in a pandemic situation that we have experienced for two years together," said Jacklevyn.

He added that the pandemic had tested the people’s humanity. "We have found that whatever our backgrounds are, all humans are really fragile," he said.

In addition to the pandemic, the Indonesian nation during 2021 was also hit by a series of natural disasters. In facing the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters, the people should be able to manifest acts of solidarity by being friends and brothers to one another.

“Compassion, showing solidarity with those who are in difficulty, those who are suffering. It has to be demonstrated as an act of brotherhood that goes far beyond just friendship," said Jacklevyn.

He hoped that this year's Christmas would further increase the enthusiasm to get out from the difficulties caused by the pandemic.

Meanwhile, on the sidelines of the 34th Nahdlatul Ulama congress in Bandar Lampung, Lampung, the organization’s executive council chairman Robikin Emhas said that the Christmas celebration was an opportunity to promote inter-religious brotherhood. He hoped that this year's Christmas would further increase the enthusiasm to get out from the difficulties caused by the pandemic.

"Hopefully in this year’s Christmas, we can work together to overcome the pandemic situation and its impacts. Let's continue to join hands," said Robikin.

The general secretary of Muhammadiyah, Abdul Mu'ti said, Muhammadiyah hoped that Christians in Indonesia and in the world could celebrate Christmas safely and peacefully. As the 2021 Christmas was still celebrated amid the Covid-19 pandemic, he hoped that Christians could take the wisdom of Christmas by becoming individuals willing to serve, giving their best for others, and saving mankind.

"The whole society should create a conducive situation and true tolerance so that Christians can worship sincerely," said Mu'ti.

Social action

The call to strengthen brotherhood was realized by the national organizing committee of the 2021 Christmas Celebration through social actions and service to the public. These actions were taken to further strengthen the unity that had thrived in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, natural disasters and various problems in the country.

AP PHOTO/VADIM GHIRDA

People crowd a Christmas market in Vienna, Austria, Sunday, Nov. 21, 2021. The Austrian government announced a nationwide lockdown that will start Monday and comes as average daily deaths have tripled in recent weeks and hospitals in heavily hit states have warned that intensive care units are reaching capacity.

“We, the children of the nation, help each other and join hands. Support and help each other, and serve each other," said Jerry Sambuaga, the chairman of the committee, who is also the deputy trade minister.

Social actions took place in a number of areas, from Sumatra to Papua and Sulawesi to East Nusa Tenggara. The committee also received suggestions from the public, including those given through social media, to ensure that the distribution of social assistance reached the eligible recipients in a timely manner.

Jerry said the Christmas committee also distributed aid to victims of the Mount Semeru eruption through the East Java Regional Disaster Management Agency.

Social action was also carried out in Papua by helping orphanages in Jayapura City and refugees in Timika, Mimika regency. Solidarity action was also carried out in Manokwari district in West Papua by visiting the victims of a recent fire at the local market. (FRN/ DEA / REK/ VAN/ MEL/ DAN/ GI O)

(This article was translated by Hendarsyah Tarmizi)