By Isaac Harold Gomes.
Christmas is an annual religious and cultural festival that is observed in almost all countries on 25 December to commemorate the birth of Jesus Christ, whose teachings are followed by 2.3 billion Christians across the world.
There is no historical or Biblical record to show that Jesus the Messiah was born on 25th December. In early Christianity, Easter was the main holiday (to commemorate Christ’s Resurrection which is the foundation of Christianity). The birth of Jesus was not celebrated then. Around 350 AD, Pope Julius I (now St Julius I) declared: “December 25th, Christ (was) born in Bethlehem, Judea.” In 529 AD Emperor Justinian declared Christmas an official holiday.
Christmas festivity includes attending church (mainly 24 December at midnight Mass which many from other faiths also attend), carol singing, decorating homes with cribs and Christmas trees, exchanging gifts and meals with family and friends. It is a family-centered day of peace, bonhomie, relaxation, and gratitude. It is also a day when home-cooked food, packaged food items, warm clothes, blankets, toys, and sanitary kits are distributed among the poor and vulnerable including inmates of children’s and old age homes.
The central point of Christmas is simplicity of life (Christ was born in a manger) and peace because Christ is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). Therefore, On Christmas we recall Christ’s teachings (Love one another as I have loved you – John 12:34) and try to emulate him by burying our egos/differences.
Because Christmas heralds peace, we often hear of major peace agreements and `ceasefires’ taking place in conflict zones immediately preceding Christmas. One commonality in these peace processes is the collaboration of religious leaders of different faiths in brokering peace processes around Christmas. So, Christmas and peace are intertwined like Siamese twins.
However, this Christmas season finds us in a very uneasy state of mind due to: (1) The severe economic downslide due to Covid-19 pandemic. (2) After Covid onslaught, the world is now grappling with Russia’s reckless invasion of Ukraine. (3) The eruption of Israel versus Hamas-Hezbollah war that has been waging since October 2023, reportedly to derail Israel-Saudi Arabia Peace Agreement.
This war is also aimed to jeopardize Memorandum of Understanding signed at the September 2023 G20 New Delhi to launch the economic corridor on cooperation, connectivity and infrastructure development involving the European Union and seven countries, namely India, the US, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), France, Germany, and Italy. This corridor is the first-of-its-kind complete with shipping and railway links. It will include a shipping route connecting Mumbai and Mundra (Gujarat) with the UAE, and a rail network connecting the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan with the Israeli port of Haifa to reach the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Haifa will then be connected by sea to the port of Piraeus in Greece to eventually be connected to Europe. For details on this, readers may refer to a report “India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor: A passage of possibilities.”
Today no country can say with assurance that it is in total peace. Therefore, the Christmas message of peace and goodwill for universal brotherhood and bonhomie is more applicable today than it was ever before. Today we desperately need statesmen with foresight and benevolence who can make all world leaders realise that modern warfare of mass destruction is meaningless. This is where the Christmas message: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2.14) is very relevant. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, because they will be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9).
Christmas message of peace and goodwill is beautifully expressed in the Preamble to the UNESCO Constitution: “Since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed.” Former President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam linked a nation’s prosperity with peace.
We often hear of `Education for Peace.’ The aim of this education is to ingrain into individuals the values, skills and attitudes required to live as responsible citizens, in harmony with others. Education for Peace can be incorporated in the curriculum of educational institutions across the world. This can be both formal and informal curriculums that aim to teach students Life Skills to resolve conflicts in a non-violent manner. Skills taught in these programs range from communication tools to social and emotional self-awareness techniques. These tools will help in increased appreciation of diversity among people and to dowse Hyper-ethnic Sensitivity which is an emerging global trend that prioritises preservation of one’s community at the expense of others (Manipur ethnic violence).
On Christmas as we commemorate the birth of Christ – the Prince of Peace – the question our leaders need to introspect on is: “What investment have we made towards peaceful living and peaceful coexistence?”
Very informative write-up.
Not the Christians but the real disciples of Christ are peace loving. Donot forget that it were the christians who were imperialist power and ruled India looted India.