By Most Rev. Dr. A. Stephen
Bishop of Tuticorin
Christmas as we know, is a period of joy and celebration, exchange of gifts, families coming together, fostering brotherhood of humanity, harmony, et al. Christmas proclaims the birth of the messiah in a manger. It reveals the mystery of a divine child in human status. Christmas also emphatically announces the truth that God needs a mother.
Mankind is choked
While Christmas is shrouded in mystery it sparks profound hope and offers relevant and meaningful attitude to all walks of life.
Mankind, today, has to face serious challenges the pandemic virus poses. It severely suffers from this deadly disease, isolation, unemployment, food shortage, and above all uncertainty about its future. Millions of people endure hunger as they have lost their jobs. They are deprived of their honour and dignity, and dubbed as untouchables.
The people who speak of justice and fight for their rights are branded as anti-nationals, terrorists, and Marxists. People lose their faith in their rulers as their voices and protests are suppressed. The society is maimed and wounded, and unable to breath as their throats are throttled. People experience fear unheard of in the history of our society. Now how can Christmas be relevant to these people and offer hope?
God is one with humanity
In the Bible the new born child is known as Emmanuel, which means God is with us. Christmas categorically asserts that this enfleshed God dwells among men. God dwelling among us, means that he participates in our life filled with joys and sorrows .He suffers with us, walks with us, identifies himself with us. When humanity is suppressed God is suppressed.
He never leaves the suffering man or woman alone. Bible strongly discloses the love of God for the poor. If one makes an intense study of the Bible he or she is surprised to know that it is written for the sake of the poor and in support of the poor (Cf. Cain and Abel story (Gen 4), Joseph and his brothers ( Gen chs.37-45); the story of Naboth(1 kings 21); the four Gospels).
The God of Christmas never sleeps nor slumbers. He is ever watchful to protect us from the adversaries (PS 121). What we need is to have trust in him. Christmas always calls us to renew our faith. It is also a time of determination, persistence and resilience. God shall never abandon us.
God radiates and transforms life
The God of Christmas consoles us and sustains our hope. He provides us with an extraordinary strength and courage to face all challenges of life.
It is somethings like what happened to a young man serving the military. He was a successful soldier. He came home for holidays and married a young girl. A week after this marriage, a call came from the military headquarters to return soon as there was an urgency to defend the country from the attack of the enemy. He was very sad to leave his wife.
However, as the time passed, young man was accused of passing information about the secret of the military and was sentenced to death. He was put in jail, unable to control his emotions, and due to his pathetic and irremediable situation he often fainted and collapsed. He cuddled himself at the corner of the cell and refused to talk to anybody fearing imminent death.
Then there was a call from the guard of the prison that someone wanted to meet him. With hesitation he went to see who this person was, it was none other than his wife. She told him, “I know you well” and continued, “you are an innocent man, everything is fabricated. I would try to appeal for your release”. The dying man was aroused to hope. He began to live a new life in prison cell.
Well, this the way the Lord does for you and me. He never abandons us.
An occasion to become wise
Christ is the God of history and master of our life. He allows the suffering, but He does not cause it. He is the Lord of our destiny. He does not test us beyond our capacity. He wants to teach us a lesson to shape us through our failures and sufferings. We become mature and are able to learn the mystery of life. Christmas is just that.
The newborn Child in the manger becomes a star of hope, a sun of light to the entire universe and a new breath to give new birth to millions in the world. Let us celebrate Christmas meaningfully. May the joy of Christmas fill you and the coming of the New Year be a source of peace for you.