More than two thousand years ago, the Roman province of Judea witnessed a journey filled with faith and hope. Mary, a young virgin from Nazareth, and her husband Joseph set out toward Bethlehem to comply with the census decreed by the Roman authorities. A few kilometers from the place where King David was born, in the humility of a manger, the greatest miracle of humanity took place: the birth of our Savior, Christ Jesus.
This story, so cherished and celebrated by generations of Christians, has lost its place in everyday life. The traditions that once united entire families and communities around the birth of the Son of God are slowly fading, while modernity advances and disconnects Christians from the roots of their faith. The West, the cradle of Christianity, is experiencing a decline in faith in God and in His Son. According to the Pew Institute of the United States, in countries such as Germany, France, Belgium, and England, only 10% of the population states that religion plays an important role in their lives. This loss goes beyond the spiritual realm and deeply affects the ethical and moral framework that has sustained our civilization for centuries.
On the other hand, Christians have also forgotten essential aspects of our Judeo-Christian roots. Jesus, being Jewish and a teacher of the faith, based His teachings on the profound traditions of Judaism. For example, the principle of tikkun olam reminds us that human beings have an active role in completing divine creation, an idea that resonates with the Christian teaching of working and multiplying the talents received as a way of collaborating with God in His creative work.
This vision was enriched by thinkers such as Saint Augustine, known as the Doctor of Grace, who linked the theological virtues of faith, hope, and charity with work and wealth. Faith, according to Saint Augustine, transforms work into an act of worship and service to God, motivating us to serve others. Hope inspires human beings to work with optimism, trusting in divine providence and in the possibility of a better future. Charity transforms work and wealth into acts of love toward others. It drives us to work not only for our personal benefit, but for the good of all, motivating us to use wealth ethically and generously to help those most in need.
Saint Thomas Aquinas, known as the Angelic Doctor, deepened the relationship between faith and reason, leaving an invaluable legacy in Christian ethics. His reflection on work and the just use of wealth remains a powerful guide for understanding how to balance the material with the spiritual in the pursuit of virtue.
This Christmas, let us celebrate not only the miracle of life, but also our ability to create and transform. Let us reflect on how our hands can sow opportunities and our hearts can multiply goodness, in order to build a future of abundance and virtue that honors the divine gift we have received.
Throughout the centuries, other Christian scholastic philosophers expanded the teachings on work and effort as paths toward divine grace. Saint Albert the Great, Bavarian bishop and alchemist, highlighted the importance of balancing active and contemplative life, taking Christ as an example. Saint John Chrysostom, from his position as Archbishop of Constantinople, proclaimed that work sanctifies man, transforming it into an act of service to God and neighbor. Likewise, Saint Isidore of Seville, Spanish archbishop and scholar, taught that work, inspired by the example of Christ, can be elevated to the category of prayer and become a supreme form of worship. Thinkers such as Francisco de Vitoria and Domingo de Soto established key principles regarding private property and economic ethics, while John Calvin promoted frugality and progress as an ethical life in service to God.
The Spanish priest Saint Josemaría Escrivá, founder of Opus Dei, transformed the perception of everyday work by presenting it as a path toward holiness. Through his teaching of “Work Well Done,” he emphasized that holiness is not exclusive to religious people, but accessible to everyone, even in secular wealth-generating careers. His message invites us to “find God in daily life” and to carry out work as an act of service to society and an offering to God. For Saint Josemaría, work not only contributes to social progress, but also elevates the soul, becoming a bridge toward holiness.
In modern times, Christian thinkers such as Wilhelm Röpke, Michael Novak, and Alejandro Chafuen have demonstrated that faith can illuminate the dynamics of the market economy. From human dignity and social justice to the compatibility between economic freedom and ethical principles, these authors emphasize that wealth creation can be a virtuous act when guided by Christian values.
In conclusion, Judeo-Christian roots have been the foundation of the economic and social development that the West has built over the last two thousand years. The abundance that comes from God is not selfish accumulation, but an opportunity to multiply goodness and offer hope to others. Abandoning these principles, ignoring their spirituality, and despising the values that have guided us toward a more just and prosperous world would mean losing our way.
This Christmas, let us take a moment to reflect on how our daily actions can contribute to the abundance that God invites us to create. Honest effort, diligent work, and the ethical stewardship of resources are acts that multiply the talents we have received. Jesus does not condemn wealth, but its misuse; on the contrary, He calls us to produce and generate well-being for ourselves and for others. Let us ask ourselves: how can I transform my work into an act of creation? What steps can I take to multiply what I have and share with those who need opportunities to prosper? True charity does not consist of handing out crumbs, but of sowing so that all may reap more.
The birth of Christ not only reminds us of the miracle of life, but also of our responsibility to collaborate in creation. God calls us to be co-creators, multiplying the talents He entrusts to us. Wealth should not be seen as a selfish end, but as a means to build a more prosperous society where every person can develop their potential. Instead of limiting charity to immediate solidarity, we are invited to be agents of long-term change, laying the foundations for a future of shared abundance. This Christmas, let us celebrate not only the miracle of life, but also our ability to create and transform. Let us reflect on how our hands can sow opportunities and our hearts can multiply goodness, in order to build a future of abundance and virtue that honors the divine gift we have received.
