Mr. P: Let me ask you this. If Jesus were alive, would he be more concerned about celebrating his birthday or helping the child and the dying mother?
I think there are at least two important texts in the Gospels that might prove as guidelines to determining what was important to Jesus, and may prove helpful in answering your question. Both describe a way of life, rather than a set of beliefs that prove ultimately important. As I read the Gospels, Jesus is far more interested in what he calls the Reign of God, than he is in himself. I think he sees his life mission as intimately tied to this radically transformative heavenly realm: but it is found here on earth, amongst the outcast, failures and the broken. Also, it is a Kingdom in stark contrast with the Empire of Rome and its puppet regime in Jerusalem: thus the conflict with both centers of power and his eventual crucifixion.
Matthew 25: 34-40 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'
Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'
The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me.'
Luke 16-19: "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
I think the Christmas Spirit should be a dangerous thing: it is a force that mobilizes people against the dominant structures of oppression and complacency...it is not simply triage care for the sick and needy, donations for the poor, it is also a radical alternative to the very system of imperial disregard and violence that readily disposes of disposable populations.