Spiritually, two people have taken centre stage in the world during 2013.
On 13 March the world welcomed onto centre stage a very humble man from Argentina – Jorge Mario Bergoglio – who that day took the name Pope Francis. Nine months later he was named as Time magazine’s person of the year. Very rarely has anyone made this kind of impact on the world in such a short time.
On 5 December Nelson Mandela left centre stage for the final time after his long walk to freedom: a man who in life and death drew world leaders to him because of his impact, attitude and inner sense of wellbeing; a man who in death inspired the President of the United States to shake hands with the leader of Cuba; a man who showed the power of forgiveness and reconciliation that comes through the life, teaching and example of Jesus Christ.
Like us, neither of these men is perfect, but we would describe both of these people as men of joy. Pope Francis and Nelson Mandela have been profoundly influenced by the life, teaching and experience of Jesus, the one whose birth we celebrate and sing about at Christmas. Joy to the world – the Lord has come.
In his first Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Gaudium released on 24 November, Pope Francis begins his encyclical with these words: “The joy of the gospel fills the hearts and lives of all who encounter Jesus. Those who accept his offer of salvation are set free from sin, sorrow, inner emptiness and loneliness. With Christ joy is constantly born anew”. That is where true joy comes from – Jesus.
Looking back across 2013, Pope Francis has been like a breath of fresh air to Jesus followers. He has an inner joy that is contagious in bringing joy to others through his simplicity, humility and having a heart for the poor and needy.
In The Sound of Music, Maria (Julie Andrews) makes a difference to the lives of a wealthy family through simple things, and always giving the best of herself. She makes the baron's children play clothes out of curtains, she allows them to climb trees, she lets them snuggle in with her during a thunderstorm. None of these things cost money, but they mean a great deal to the children. She brings joy into their lives.
We may not have money and goods like the Magi, but with young children that doesn't matter. Time is better than money in children's eyes. If you don't have much to give this Christmas, give what you have. We might give a prayer, a song, an encouraging word or a helping hand. If we give it to Jesus (or one of his children) with all our hearts, then it will be enough. It will bring joy to others.
An amazing characteristic of God that we learn at this time of year is that God starts small in order to go big. It's like the time Jesus fed 5,000 people with five loaves and two fish. Jesus did not create two new fish, he multiplied the fish. Someone had to give something first in order for it to be multiplied.
Pope Francis is offering a gift of humility – a poor church for poor people. Let’s see what God does with that gift.
Nelson Mandela offered forgiveness and reconciliation. We have seen the impact of that gift. Never in recent history have more world leaders gathered for a person’s funeral.
Both are generous people – generous in different ways, but joy comes through generosity.
One may ask, “What makes a person generous?” The answer is abundance. But abundance does not mean having a lot. Research shows that the wealthiest 20 percent of Americans gave 1.3 percent of their incomes to charity in 2011, while the poorest 20 percent of the population gave 3.2 percent of their income to charity.
Abundance is not about wealth, it’s first and foremost an attitude about life. It’s intimately connected to how we approach relationships. Abundance is not having more to give; it’s giving more of what you have.
After 27 years of being a prisoner, breaking rocks in the hot sun, Nelson Mandela faced a choice. He could seek revenge from those who punished him, or he could forgive them. He chose to forgive. He could hold out a hand of reconciliation or a fist of retaliation. He held out a hand. As he said, “They held me prisoner for 27 years – if I can't forgive them, they will hold me prisoner for the rest of my life”. He learnt the power for forgiveness from a man called Jesus.
Pope Francis has chosen to walk the path of poverty. He wants to be the leader of a poor church for poor people. He has been generous in humility. That is his gift.
If you want to have joy and bring joy to others learn from Jesus and those that have followed in his footsteps.
Be humble, be forgiving and above all care for the poor and needy. Abundance is not having more to give; it’s giving more of what you have.