One of Percy Faith’s Christmas carols begins, ‘Christmas is sleigh bells. Christmas is sharing. Christmas is holly.’ He tried to capture some of the things that bring Christmas joy, the sights, sounds and feelings - - - apparently that is what Christmas means to most people around the world.
Actually CHRISTMAS is much more than just sharing, warm emotions and gifts with family and friends. Christmas is about God’s love and faithfulness, made perceivable through history. It is about God touching our lives with His love. So what is Christmas about?
Over 2500 years ago God, through Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14) sent His greetings to the Jewish people who were exiled in Babylon and also to the handful of people who had remained in Jerusalem. Our God of history, our all-powerful and loving God intervened for us and sent us a ‘Gift of Love’-Jesus, the son of Mary. God sent His heralds, the angels, who gave us the great ‘news of love’ - the birth of Jesus.
We may have tinsel and Christmas lights, expensive presents and fashionable clothes---things which give us temporary pleasure and many think that this is the highlight of Christmas. Our thankless hearts may think that it is enough to watch the latest Christmas music and programmes on the TV, to
take a pleasurable walk down Park Street enjoying the brightly lit avenue. But that’s not enough.
Such things cannot fill our hearts with love and peace. Christmas is all about needy people. It is at this time of the year that many people miss their loved ones the most, especially those who have gone before them or are in a faraway lands.
As Christmas is synonymous of with love and caring, let us go out and bring a smile on the faces of the aged, the lonely, the sick and those on the periphery of our society. Let us give a helping hand to the unfortunate ones, who are poverty-stricken and lack a roof
above their heads; and especially the children who are deprived of their childhood. Our powerful
and merciful God has supplied all our needs. As Saint Teresa of Kolkata once stated, ‘It’s Christmas every time, you let God love others through you…”
Yes it is Christmas each time you show love to your brothers and sisters by offering them your generous hand. Our Lord has provided the best gift of love to us, through our deliverance and Salvation. It is God’s love which is the very reason for this season, we all call Christmas. The mystery of the ‘Holy Night’, which historically happened over two thousand years ago, must be lived by us as a spiritual event and we must have the ‘Word’ living in our hearts.
Many in today’s world have come to realise that where God’s love is absent, there is fear, anxiety and uncertainty. But the Good News is that the God of love has come to bring us a perfect love which the world cannot give us. Love is the true gift of Christmas. Come let us spread this love to those around
us, especially in these troubled times we live in, for the spirit of Christmas is contagious especially when we share a smile with others.
In the words of Pope Francis, ‘Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of God and family and to create memories that will last forever. Jesus is God’s perfect, indescribable gift, which we are able to share with others at Christmas and every Day of the year’.
In one of Peanuts comic strip, Lucy says that Christmas is a time for love, kindness and a time to forgive one another. Charlie Brown, replies, "Why do that just at Christmas? Why can't we have the Christmas spirit the rest of the year? "What a beautiful way to spread love which is the most important emotion in the world!
I wish each one of you a Christmas, filled with the presence of the Baby Jesus in your hearts and a New Year 2020 full of His blessings!
Actually CHRISTMAS is much more than just sharing, warm emotions and gifts with family and friends. Christmas is about God’s love and faithfulness, made perceivable through history. It is about God touching our lives with His love. So what is Christmas about?
Over 2500 years ago God, through Isaiah (Isaiah 7:14) sent His greetings to the Jewish people who were exiled in Babylon and also to the handful of people who had remained in Jerusalem. Our God of history, our all-powerful and loving God intervened for us and sent us a ‘Gift of Love’-Jesus, the son of Mary. God sent His heralds, the angels, who gave us the great ‘news of love’ - the birth of Jesus.
We may have tinsel and Christmas lights, expensive presents and fashionable clothes---things which give us temporary pleasure and many think that this is the highlight of Christmas. Our thankless hearts may think that it is enough to watch the latest Christmas music and programmes on the TV, to
take a pleasurable walk down Park Street enjoying the brightly lit avenue. But that’s not enough.
Such things cannot fill our hearts with love and peace. Christmas is all about needy people. It is at this time of the year that many people miss their loved ones the most, especially those who have gone before them or are in a faraway lands.
As Christmas is synonymous of with love and caring, let us go out and bring a smile on the faces of the aged, the lonely, the sick and those on the periphery of our society. Let us give a helping hand to the unfortunate ones, who are poverty-stricken and lack a roof
above their heads; and especially the children who are deprived of their childhood. Our powerful
and merciful God has supplied all our needs. As Saint Teresa of Kolkata once stated, ‘It’s Christmas every time, you let God love others through you…”
Yes it is Christmas each time you show love to your brothers and sisters by offering them your generous hand. Our Lord has provided the best gift of love to us, through our deliverance and Salvation. It is God’s love which is the very reason for this season, we all call Christmas. The mystery of the ‘Holy Night’, which historically happened over two thousand years ago, must be lived by us as a spiritual event and we must have the ‘Word’ living in our hearts.
Many in today’s world have come to realise that where God’s love is absent, there is fear, anxiety and uncertainty. But the Good News is that the God of love has come to bring us a perfect love which the world cannot give us. Love is the true gift of Christmas. Come let us spread this love to those around
us, especially in these troubled times we live in, for the spirit of Christmas is contagious especially when we share a smile with others.
In the words of Pope Francis, ‘Christmas is the perfect time to celebrate the love of God and family and to create memories that will last forever. Jesus is God’s perfect, indescribable gift, which we are able to share with others at Christmas and every Day of the year’.
In one of Peanuts comic strip, Lucy says that Christmas is a time for love, kindness and a time to forgive one another. Charlie Brown, replies, "Why do that just at Christmas? Why can't we have the Christmas spirit the rest of the year? "What a beautiful way to spread love which is the most important emotion in the world!
I wish each one of you a Christmas, filled with the presence of the Baby Jesus in your hearts and a New Year 2020 full of His blessings!
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