Jesus was born away from home, on a journey that symbolized
the restless and the wandering nature of the world into which He came. He was
born in the insecurity of a manger as there was no place for him in the inn.
Though he was the new born king of the Jews, he was not born in the comfort of
a palace as he wanted to identify himself with common people. He roamed the
roads and towns of ancient Palestine. He died, taking the ordeal of the cross
so that out of His suffering and His victorious resurrection humankind could
find redemption. “Being a disciple of Christ is not the result of an ethical
choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives
life a new horizon and a decisive direction”, said Pope Benedict XVI. This is a
special time to reflect on the transforming presence of a tender God who
entered the human history. “And the
Word became flesh and dwelt among us. And we beheld His glory, a glory
as of an only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”(Jn 1:14)
Christmas is a grace filled time of renewed hope—not hope in
a particular political concept, but Christmas hope; hope in Jesus Christ; hope
that, despite our selfishness and self righteousness, God will bring order out
of chaos. He has come to save us from despair, pessimism, fear and from the
burden of sin. The angel who said, “He will save His people from their sins,” was
touching the very heart of our need.
He came on that first Christmas night to “save His people
from their sins.” No doctor in the world can treat sin. No psychiatrist in the
world can cure sin. They can work on symptoms. Only Jesus Christ can heal the
disease of sin. This was the message of the first Christmas night: “You shall
call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” The
Christmas message says that God’s grace is greater than our sin. The cross was
the cure and the price paid for sin by a loving God in His beloved Son.
The Christmas message has not changed after 2,000 years.
Christmas still reminds us that God is with us. In spite of all the pessimism
and cynicism, in spite of all the headlines about murders, assassinations, riots,
demonstrations and war, Jesus Christ is alive. He is alive to conquer despair,
to impart hope, to forgive sins and to take away our loneliness. He is alive to
reconcile us to God. The power of this Child, Son of God and Son of Mary, is
not the power of this world, based on might and wealth; it is the power of
love.
He rules by love not by force, who commands forgiveness not
revenge, makes the last first and the first last, who becomes the victim
of violence and hatred in achieving peace. This baby is a great challenge to
every power and authority. Jesus needs to be born again in our hearts in our
attitudes, in our relationships, in our work place. The world stands in need of
liberation – liberation from fear, exploitation, corruption, political hegemony,
religious fundamentalism, violence and terror, rape and murder, female
infanticide, gender discrimination, domestic violence, unemployment, injustice,
social exclusion and isolation. Jesus came as Saviour of the world. His way is
a way of love, way of forgiveness, way of service, way of humility, way of
inclusion, and way of inner transformation. He transformed water into wine. He
transformed frightened disciples into courageous apostles; sinners into saints; sadness into joy;
despair into hope; death into life. He has the power to transform hatred into
love, diffidence into confidence, selfishness into selflessness, sickness into
health. Jesus continues his work of transforming people. Here is Jesus of
Nazareth who could walk the talk and pay the price on the cross. Thus he
changed the history of the world. Jesus changed the lives of millions of people
irrespective of caste, creed and nationality. He has not come to change
religion or culture or conquer nations or establish political affiliations. His
only work was to transform the individual and give him hope of a peaceful life
and life in abundance. His aim was to show humankind the way to live a life
full of love, joy and peace. What else do we need? Try Jesus. Life is fragile.
Handle it with prayer. Not emails but knee mails will bring peace and
prosperity. Jesus is the visible face of the invisible God who cares for YOU
and loves you unconditionally. To all those who believed in him, he gave
them the power to become children of God. As Pope Francis said in his Christmas
message, “Christmas is you, when you decide to be born again each day and let
God into your soul. The Christmas pine is you, when you resist vigorous winds
and difficulties of life. The Christmas decorations are you, when your virtues
are colors that adorn your life. The Christmas bell is you, when you call,
gather and seek to unite. You are also a Christmas light, when you illuminate
with your life the path of others with kindness, patience, joy and generosity.”
Happy Christmas.
