Last Monday, various political celebrities commemorated the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

German chancellor, Angela Merkel, escorted leaders, including the Russian president, the French president, the British prime minister and the US secretary of state, through the Brandenburg Gate.

“Today marks a truly happy moment of German and European history,” the chancellor said.

Nicely put.

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Then, would you believe, President Barack Obama made a “surprise” video address to the celebrants.

“This anniversary is a reminder that human destiny will be what we make of it,” he announced.

Plus more of the same, like, “Human destiny is what human beings make up.”

From the sublime to the ridiculous.

If we are to learn anything from the Berlin Wall, let’s start by admitting that human destiny is NOT what we make of it. Human destiny is what God makes of it.

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The coming Christian festival of Christmas is a good reminder of how absolutely we are dependent on God — for our destiny here on earth, and in the hereafter.

Between now and Christmas, let’s try to get our minds in tune with reality.

* If you see a Nativity Scene in a shop or in a catalogue, buy it and give it to a friend.

* Work out how much money you spent last Christmas.  Divide it by two.  Give at least that much to the poor. 

* Say a prayer every day from now until Christmas. Make plans to attend church on Christmas Day.

* Make some kind of personal sacrifice.  Go without some luxury — no sugar in your tea, no junk food, anything. Any sacrifice, even a small one, can help us to become humble as Our Lord was.

God says, “Blessed are the poor in spirit (the humble who rate themselves insignificant) for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.”  (Saint Matthew’s gospel, chapter 5)

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