A Christmas Message……

Jesus is the expression of God in a human person of whatever place, religion, culture and tradition.

Christmas brings to everyone’s mind thoughts of Christmas cards, Santa Claus, Christmas trees, Christmas cakes and a whole lot of things that are associated with Christmas. Perhaps at this time we also remember the birth of Jesus in a cave of Bethlehem, the angels announcing the news to the poor shepherds and the wise men coming from the east in search of the new born king. As we know Christians all over the world commemorate this event in a festive manner.

Let us remember, however, that Christmas has a significance that goes beyond the boundaries of the Christian religion. It speaks to all human beings of the truth of God who dwells in the life of everyone and in everything that is in the universe. When the birth of Jesus was foretold by the angel, he was introduced as ‘Emmanuel’ which means God who lives with us. Jesus is the expression of God in a human person of whatever place, religion, culture and tradition. Jesus Christ is not only a great personality of the past but he stands for God who entered into the world we live in and into the life of every human being. Christmas invites each of us to search our hearts and discover the presence of God within us and around us. We need to see our life history as the story that is written by God in each of us. We are not merely individual persons struggling against numerous elements and at the mercy of a God who remains distant from us.

In our life, as we are helped by parents, teachers and friends to understand ourselves, we begin to unravel the mystery that is hidden within us. Every experience tells something more about ourselves and about life itself. But it is necessary for us to understand the inner meaning of what unfolds before us as we live our life each day. The same applies to our accomplishments and failures as well. Nothing should be seen as they appear to our eyes. Every event is a learning experience in life and we ought to accept it with thankfulness. It is all the work of God who sustains and moves in every being. This is what Christmas is all about. It tells us of God who does not keep distance from us, but lives in the heart of everything, however simple and insignificant they appear.

Christmas is meant to reawaken within us the joy of living. Let each of us see himself and herself as the presence of God to the other.  The angels proclaimed at Christ’s birth: “Glory to God in the highest and peace to all people of good will.” Peace of heart in its fullness can come only when God is born in us. This happens only when we step aside from a life of selfishness and give place to a life of love. “God is love and he who lives in love, lives in God” (1 John 4:16). As the awareness of this truth grows within us, we discover the image of God within us more perfectly. Our thoughts, words and actions become purer and carry the radiance of God. The Isavasya Upanishad begins with the verse: “Isavasyam idam sarvam…” “The world is filled with the glory of God” and Christmas has come around once again to awaken us to this truth. May the overwhelming joy of this message fill all of us and all who are dear to us! Happy Christmas!