Rev. Fr. G. L. Khing
Kohima
The celebration of Christmas is a story of God and man. The world continues to rejoice at the birth of a child called Jesus Christ. The incarnation of God as man to change the destiny of humanity into divinity is a great event to be celebrated by all.
The birth of Jesus has activated the dormant soul of man into a spring of the God’s dwelling place. Therefore, every Christian has every reason to rejoice. The birth of Jesus is a re-birth for many people and his life is re-lived by many good Christians even today. The birth of Jesus is not only a historical event. It occursevery day in the lives of Christians, who now represents Him in the world.
The Catholic Church is indeed proud to officially declare all the major Christian Celebrations and Festivals. The first recorded date of Christmas being celebrated on 25th December was in the year 336 during the time of Roman Emperor Constantine, the first Christian Roman Emperor. Few years later it was officially declared by Pope Julius I. The Jewish festival of light (Hanukkah) also has some influence on the celebration of Christmas. The festival remembers the re-dedication of the second Jewish temple in Jerusalem which lasts for eight days starting on 25th in the month of Kislev in the Jewish calendar which for us occurs about the same time as December.
Christmas is celebrated with many signs and symbols which havegreat significance. The Christmas tree represents in a deeply intricate way, the full picture of God’s plan for the Christian soul. God can be compared to the Evergreen Christmas tree with its several branches of hope reaching out to all directions.The Crib represents the birth of Jesus in our hearts and homes. The Crib also exemplifies the simple, non-luxurious, route to God. This nativity scene was first started by St. Francis of Assisi in the year 1223. Likewise, Christmas Carols began with him and spread throughout Europe. Christmas carols represents the choirs of Angels that proclaimed the Good News to lift up human soul to God.Santa Claus or Christmas Father represents God the Father who showers his love and blessings on all his Children. St. Nicholas, the Bishop of Turkey is called Christmas Father. He had a practice of giving gifts and presents secretly to Children. The colour of the dress of Christmas Father – Red and White were the religious vestments of St. Nicholas. The veneration of Saints was abolished in most protestant areas soon after the Reformation. Thus, religious traditions associated with saints were all abolished. But, today, the practice of putting up Christmas Crib, Santa Claus and Christmas tree are seen even in the protestant Churches. Christmas is a season to be at peace with oneself and with one another. The birth of the Prince of Peace, Jesus, should find a place in our personal life. When our life is induced by the peace of God, we become channels of God’s love. For this, we need to activate ourselves from the manger of Bethlehem where lies the Son of God in the most humble manner. We all search for big changes to happen in life, but the little angelic changes that come our way are rarely taken into consideration. By this we become like thoseself-righteous people at the time of Jesus’ birth. They looked for magnificent appearance of God, but failed to see the incarnation of God in the little manger.Thelight of the world has come, but people did not recognize him(Jn.1:10-12)
The long awaited Messiah has been born to redeem us from the darkness of this world and take us to the heavenly side.By his birth, we have received new birth. By his life, we have received new life. By his word we have received the assurance of being called the children of God.The greatest gift God has given to us is the gift of his very self in the incarnation of his Son. Such act of self-giving is a mystery to be pondered and appreciated.
God in human flesh is absurd for the wise and the learned, but to the meek and the humble, it is a greater discovery of God’s presence in human history. The glad tidings of the birth of Jesus announced to the lowly shepherds in the cold night gives us better discovery of God’s work (Lk.2:8-20). Hearing the Good News, the shepherd hurried to Bethlehem and found Mary and Joseph with the Child lying in the manger. They saw the glory of God not in palaces but in the manger.Thereafter,the Shepherds became the herald of Good News.
Today’s society is filled with rumours and wrong notions that can easily grip our lives towards wrong living. Amidst this set up, every Christian needs to be another Good News. In this way, we become another Angel/Shepherd in the society. Good News can change our lives. On the other hand, bad news can equally influence our lives.The Church and society is longing for men and women who can herald Good News.Let us notdistort the image of Bethlehem in us.
Every family is a small Bethlehem, where Father, Mother and Children live together in peace. Let us all be on the guard that no evil may destroy our families and homes. The joy of Christmas is the joy of the human family that has at last found Christ. Our life is more meaningful with Jesus.Christmas is the assurance that God still loves the world and he loves it to the end (Jn.13:1). Therefore, we need to be encouraged Christians, not discouraged Christians.
This Christmas, let us see the face of God in small ways. Today, the new born child Jesus is found in the face of numerous homeless children, children stricken with poverty beyond any recognition from the society, children who have no one to love, children who sleep in tears without the loving arms of Parents around them, children who go to bed without a morsel of food. There are children shivering in the cold or dying without any medication and care.
Let this Christmas teach us deeply the need to raise children in the light of God’s wisdom and fear of the Lord. Every child in the family is a treasure to the family. Do not allow this treasure to bebroken by meaningless life.
In most cultures across the globe, the birth of a child is a cause for great joy and celebration. Much more profound and joyful must this celebration be if the child born in our midst is the Son of God.Christmas is that birth, not merely of a child, but the child who would change the destiny of human beings forever. It is a celebration of God’s gracious love holding nothing back but a total self-giving to the human race.
The same Jesus continues to be born in our midst even today. When selflessness triumphs over selfishness, when generosity triumphs over greed, and when light overcomes darkness, then Jesus is born again and everyday is Christmas.
Allow the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph to be an inspiration for our family.May the blessings of Christmas be with you all. Merry Christmas…
With Prayers & Blessings
