Dr. Fr. Davis George
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, they can help the sinner to live
with his sin, but they cannot get rid of the disease. 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—offered, paid for and administered 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. He
transformed 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. 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.
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