A HAND extended in succor, a tear shed for the unfortunate, a prayer uttered for the lonely and helpless, a wish for peace and prosperity for others.

These are the gestures that matter most on Christmas — and throughout the year.

It is never the glistening and gay buntings on a tree, the expensively-wrapped gifts bought at a superstore or mall with the pricey tag, the gourmet, mouth-watering viands adorning the table or the crisp cash handed out in envelopes to relatives who, as so often happens, are in the same league of decadence as the perfumed givers. No, these are not what Jesus Christ taught the world to do to find peace and serenity within ourselves.

It is, we often say, the height of insensitivity for rich men to exchange blessings with their fellow rich amid a world of sufferings and poverty. Or, even just to be seen doing so.

A television program hosted by a couple of popular showbiz personalities and shown on Christmas eve highlighting the ways the rich and famous celebrate their families’ yuletide particularly assails the senses. There on the screen was this couple, but most particularly the female, blabbering away and flaunting how they would hie off to some vacation resort abroad with their children during the holidays, the footage complete with still photo flashes of their holidaying in the snow and other landmark spots, another showing off the array of sparkling decorations of their house starting from the door and around the dining table,and still another practically fluttering her eyelashes at the many joys she savors on Christmas.

Many of these video footage subjects apparently enjoyed the feature courtesy of the television network and probably gloated at the prospect of having friends and enemies alike see that they have, to be caustic about it, ‘arrived’ in life.

Have they?

Have they, indeed –when all they’ve managed to parade is their adherence to pagan rituals and mindless spending? Cheap shots!

Merry Christmas to All – despite the presence of ugly creatures in our midst!.