Christmas: Reflection, celebration and determination

Today is December 25 of the 2005th year of the Lord. Today the whole world celebrates with great solemnity the birth of Jesus, nativity of Jesus -- Christmas. This is the day our Saviour was born; what a joy for us! This is no season for sadness, this is birthday of Christ who is life -- the life which annihilates the fear of death, and engenders joy, promising immortality. However, Christmas celebration becomes relevant and spiritually fruit bearing only when we reflect the great mystery around which the whole celebration evolves; when we look at the mystery in the contest of the contemporary world and its optimistic and pessimistic realities; and by doing this we take up the challenges that the mystery of the celebration demands.

Christmas mystery reflected: The history points out that when Palestine was ruled by the Romans, Jews were treated as slaves and when these Jewish people tired of slavery and underestimation were expecting a Messiah promised by the Lord and prophesied by many Prophets the Messiah was born in a very simple manner almost unnoticed, unannounced by human voice and unrecognised. He was born in Bethlehem in a tiny cowshed finding no corner when Joseph and Virgin Mary came to Judea for enlisting their names. He was born to Virgin Mary! God the Father in and through this new born revealed to man completely. Therefore, this man -- the newborn Jesus -- is ordinary as well as very extraordinary as he comes in human and divine nature both. Through Incarnation the unspoken word is being spoken. The Bible says: “When in former times God spoke to our forefathers, he spoke in fragmentary and varied fashion through the prophets. But in this the final age he has spoken to us in the Son whom he has made heir to the whole universe; and through whom he created all orders of existence” (Letter to the Hebrews 1:1-2). It is God who therefore comes down to earth through Incarnation. It is the cause of great joy for humanity.

This birth of the Child Jesus brings tremendous joy to the world because this birth is for the spiritual salvation of the whole world. The world is liberated through Jesus: his life, his preaching, his examples and finally his redemptive death on the cross and his glorious resurrection. And so at the nativity of Jesus the Angel has this happy announcement to the shepherds, the first guests who came to meet him, “I bring to you a news of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger” (LK 2: 11-12). And also the multitude of heavenly angels praising God singing, “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is well pleased” (LK 2: 13-14). At his birth the shepherds were the first gusts that came to visit him. Yes, those who are clean and pure in heart, simple and humble in nature can find God in their heart, in their lives.

Jesus is born to dwell with us as a light: The Bible states that “The world was made flesh and dwelt among us" (John 1:14). This Word is God Himself that comes to humanity embracing the same human nature in everything but sin. Here we reflect the tremendous love of God for mankind. He comes down from above in order to let mankind find its dignity back and be with the same bond with God. He comes to dwell among us. He can dwell only when we are prepared with our holiness in heart and mind, in words and deeds. Jesus is born as a Light. His coming throws off darkness of sin from the world; the world is brightened with new light. Christmas is a feast of light. It calls all men to come out from the darkness of sin and be enlightened with good deeds. The three Magi were led to the place of birth of Jesus by a lighted star (Cfr Holy Bible, Gospel of St Mathew 2:9). We are called to be guided by the divine light who is Jesus. Christmas is truly a feast of light.

Religious and socio-cultural celebration: As regards preparation for this great spiritual festival a four-week period, liturgically called the season of Advent is loaded with prayers, Bible reading and meditation. Devotees and the faithful cleanse themselves through a sacramental ritual called Confession or Sacrament of Reconciliation. The last nine days of this Advent season is intensified with hymns and prayers that bring newness in the life of the believers in order to welcome the newborn Jesus in heart in a befitting manner. On Christmas the Christmas prayer service, the Holy Mass is held at night, traditionally called mid-night Mass on 24th of December and in the morning of December 25. Culturally speaking people normally decorate houses during Christmas, Christmas star is hoisted, Christmas carols are sung. Delicious and variety of cakes are prepared in almost each family and are shared by friends and neighbours irrespective of caste and religion. People go house to house to exchange Christmas wishes. Of course people, especially the youth and children are donned in new clothes.

Jesus the Messiah and his kingdom: The salvation history narrated in the Bible foresaw that the Messiah will come from the house of King David and He will be called Counselor, Prince of Peace. And at his coming the whole situation will be renovated; the messianic kingdom will be of peace and harmony. Its features are stated in the Book of Prophet Isaiah: "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall feed; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox" (Prophet Isaiah 11:1-8). The Prophecy again says: "Nation will not lift sword against nation, there will be no more training of war" (Isaiah 2:3-4). This text is very relevant for Bangladesh at this present period when the country is going through bitter experience of turmoil and unrest.

Call of Christmas: No sword but peace. It is not merely a slogan, because slogans are these days very cheap, even misleading. It must be a reality. Jesus is born to liberate mankind from the bondage of sins. And as sated above, these sins are a reality in our country. This year in our country Christmas mystery and celebration strongly voicing: no sword but peace. Sword brings division, clash, hatred, suspicion, death, injustice, greed for power and misuse of power; and these are personal, social, national sins. Christmas calls everyone to have a reflective glance on the Christmas crib, reflect on the birth of Jesus and be tremendously touched by the value that this nativity embraces and renounce, abandon once for all these nasty and ugly sins. Following the message of Christmas the result will be a new person, new society. The whole country will be refreshed where will dwell peace, true peace.

Establishment of this peace is possible because Bangladesh has an excellent tradition of people of different religious faith living together in harmony. Brotherhood and communion is in the blood of the people. Therefore even though this year's Christmas message puts before us a big challenge to realise peace yet we say we are able to face this challenge.

Conclusion: We can conclude that, the oath: "no sword but peace" is a must not only for Christian community that celebrates Christmas but also for all others. We all have the moral responsibility to make this world, this country better. Peace is inner disposition of man's life expressed in outward personality through words and deeds. When we are men of peace, we don't destroy but build, we don't demolish human life but help it grow. On this year's Christmas let our prayer to the Lord be: Make me a channel of your peace: where there is hatred, let me bring your love; where there is injury, your pardon. And where there is doubt, true faith in you. Merry Christmas!