Merry Christmas

It is my sense of responsibility to a dedicated group of readers which prompted me to write this short blog entry while sitting at the airport in Salt Lake City, Utah. I was on my way to Reno, Nevada from New York after the morning mass at St. Basil Malankara Catholic Church, Queens, New York. Three hours at the airport was enough to continue reflecting on a topic we were meditating last three weeks.

Christmas is one week away and we are making the final preparation for our celebration of the birth of the Lord. There were many who were waiting for the coming of the expected Messiah in Israel. But his birth was contrary to their expectation. He was not born in a palace like any other kings. Joseph and Mary couldn’t even find an inn or even a house. It was not because they didn’t search but every place they searched was filled with people because of the census. The One who created everything had no place to be born. This was just the prefiguration of what would be happening in the life of Christ. It was also the sign of the kind of savior he would be. One who doesn’t need much, but willing to give everything. The divine glory is hidden in the poverty of this child in Bethlehem. He extends his hands to us, not to take anything from us but to give everything including his own life for us. The manger is so small that one has to kneel down in order to enter and see Christ. Only those who have faith can come to this level of understanding. Only those who can humble themselves can experience the incarnate Son of God. This child is God’s precious gift to humanity. God has given us the best possible gift he could give – his own Son. Our response in receiving this gift is to give ourselves completely to God.

The shepherds were simple people. But at the same time they were willing to listen to the voice of God and were ready to make the journey to see the real shepherd who would lay down his life for the sheep. The wise men were wise enough to seek for the wisest.

 

Now we would be willing to admit Jesus into our homes, cities, nations, cultures and every area of our life situations. If the emptiness of our hearts and the spiritual barrenness prevent us from experiencing Christ, then St. Augustine reminds us:  “Wake up O man! For your sake, God became man”.  

The First Christmas Concert

“Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger” (Luke 2: 10 -12).

The extraordinary joy of listening to a beautiful Christmas music is beyond comparison. If we look back, the first Christmas concert was conducted by the angels and the poor shepherds who didn’t have much background in professional music were the audience. The singing was not too loud or too low but was loud enough to reach the ears of those who were willing to listen. The light setting was provided by stars from heaven and the stage was set in the open air auditorium. The invitation was free but the willingness to accept it, was a requirement to hear the music. The angels, the stars, the shepherds and the sheep together illumined the dark night with a glow of magical light and music. They were on the march to see and hear something extra ordinary – the greatest music ever sung to humans. Because, the conductor of the music was God himself. The theme of the song was about a gift humanity would be receiving soon. God has set the stage for this concert thousands of years ago, to be precise, when Adam and Eve began to enjoy the wrong music forgetting God’s command not to touch the ‘forbidden fruit’ while they are acting in the Garden of Eden on the theme of human life.

They sang on the wrong note and the music for the human race got ‘corrupted’. God rewrote the lines for this music for Adam’s children with the life of his own Son. The 'corrupted' music was corrected by God’s Son through his Incarnation into human history. As this music has reached the surface of the earth, heaven and earth has been reunited again.

On the same note - the tickets were sold out, but not many showed up or were spiritually prepared to listen to the music sung by the angels of God. The content of the music was the good news of the birth of the expected Messiah. The conclusion of the song was “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” (Lk. 2: 14). When the concert was over, the shepherds could not sleep because of the overwhelming joy. Where the angels stopped, the shepherds began their singing: “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.” (Lk. 2: 15). This was something like the Jews sang during their annual pilgrimages to the Temple: “I rejoiced when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the LORD’.” (Ps.122: 1). The shepherds were dancing and singing in their journey to ‘Bethlehem’ – the house of bread. In that house of bread they saw the life giving bread.  The little baby in the manger joined in their singing with an innocent smile which brought an instant joy and healing into the life of those shepherds. He moved his little legs and hands to welcome them. They didn't realize that this hands would one day be stuck in a cross for a permanent solution to fix the song which went wrong. Who, but the innocent and humble shepherds, could ultimately travel just to see a helpless child in swaddling clothes by listening to the song of the angels! Because of their faith and hope, they experienced what was predicted by the prophet Isaiah: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom a light has shone” (Is. 9: 1). What the shepherds experienced could be experienced by all those, who are willing to follow the message of the song.

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The shepherds’ journey reminds us of our journey to see Jesus. But very often I stay locked in myself, seeking my own interests, forgetting the peace offered to me… I must begin the journey… striking the tiny light in the midst of an overpowering darkness. We are always be assured that the angel’s Word has already been Incarnated. I need to respond to the invitation God has given me to join in the chorus with his music at this stage of life on my journey to experience my union with God. The journey begins here… the concert starts here… I just have to buy a ticket…It is still on sale… If you need a ticket please call the office opened next to the manger in Bethlehem.

 “Once again we are assured that, in spite of all the noise and nonsense, to day, December 25, is Christmas just as truly as two millennia ago. Once and for all God has started out on his journey toward us, and nothing, till the world’s end, will stop him from coming to us and abiding in us” (von Balthasar). Here is God coming to us- When am I starting my journey to see and worship him?

 

I will be on Christmas vacation for few weeks and will try to update every week if I get some time to write. If not I will resume writing by the middle of January.

Meaningful Christmas

When Christianity began to spread to the pagan world, many cultures were transformed into a Christian culture. Christians also adopted many practices from other traditions and cultures. The date of the celebration of Christmas (December 25) is the best example for this adaptation. People of the Roman Empire celebrated sun’s rebirth during the longest night of the year. From December 25^th onwards the day gets longer as the amount of light increases. This is really meaningful and understandable because by the coming of Christ the darkness of the world has been removed. So when Christianity replaced paganism in the Roman Empire, it was easy for the Christians to replace the feast of the sun with the birth of Christ.

The historical event of the Incarnation of the Son of God is the basis of the celebration of the feast of Christmas. He was born in Bethlehem, lived in Palestine for thirty three years and was crucified, rose from the dead and ascended into heaven and will come again to judge the living and the dead. But when we see the Christmas celebration around us one can only wonder how much Christ is present in these celebrations. Knowingly or unknowingly Christ has become the missing link in our Christmas celebrations in a far too “secularized” world.

Now the opposite of what should happen in Christmas is happening as we try to “paganize” the Christmas celebration. To make the values of commerce and of worldly thinking prevail over the “Christ-centered Christmas” is compromising our Christian identity. The sad part of it is that either we are not aware of it or we don’t care about it. A sacred element in our celebration has been replaced by some profane practices which now makes the impression that those practices are part of a real Christian Christmas celebration. By allowing this to happen in our life, once again the “pagan” elements take over the Christian feast. It is just like some countries which claim to be atheistic but are making all the sacred objects and ornaments for the believers. They have only one intention in mind that they should sell those objects and make money and what they make has no connection to their lives. We must celebrate Christmas with a sense of adoration expressing our gratitude to the God who loved us by becoming man. In our selection of Christmas cards, decorations and greetings we should not be afraid to acknowledge that we are Christians and Christmas is Jesus’ Birthday.

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The tradition of illuminating the streets, shops and homes with lights during Christmas is coming from the image that Jesus is the light of the world. Of all the months, December has the darkest days of the year. But with the birth of Christ the situation changes from darkness to light. Referring to the ministry of Jesus, St. Matthew writes in his gospel reminding the readers of a prophesy of Isaiah that “the people who sit in darkness have seen a great light, on those dwelling in a land overshadowed by death light has arisen” (Mt 4: 16). This Scriptural passage has eternal significance since everyone need to see the light of Christ.

In one of the Sacred Scriptures of Hinduism (Brhadaranyaka Upanishad — I.iii.28) the devotee prays to God:

असतो मा सद्गमय।
तमसो मा ज्योतिर्गमय।
म्रित्योर्मा अम्रुतम्गमय।

ॐ शांति शांति शांति I
Asatoma Sadgamaya

Thamaso Maa Jyothir Gamaya

Mrithyor Maa Amrutham Gamaya

Aum Shanti Shanti Shanti

It means: “Lord, lead me from the unreal to the real. Lead me from darkness to light. Lead me from death to immortality. May there be peace everywhere.”  Even though this prayer was composed 800 – 600 years before the birth of Christ, it has been actually fulfilled in the coming of Christ. In India during Christmas season everyone put a Christmas star in front of the house and shops. It reaches beyond the boundaries of Christianity as followers of other religions also enjoy having a star in front of their house. Different kinds of traditions are followed in the United States also, but everywhere we see beautiful lights.

We see in the gospels that the wise men from the East following the star to reach Bethlehem. “…behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, ‘Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage’” (Mt 2: 1-2). The wise men were wise enough to understand the signs of the times to seek the wisest - Jesus of Nazareth. In our preparation of Christmas also we should follow Christ who is the real light, leading us to our final destination -heaven.

Whenever I think about Jesus as the light of the world, I remember a story which I heard as a young boy: One day, the setting sun turned to the world and asked a question: “Who can give light to the world after my departure?” There was complete silence since everyone knew that the sun gives light to the whole world and nobody can replace the sun. After a while, a small lightening bug came forward and said: “I shall try my best”. A lightening bug can save a person from falling into a ditch when there is so much darkness. When we look around us, we see so much darkness. We blame the darkness for everything. Instead of blaming the darkness, try to be a light.

Jesus asks the same question: “who can give light in today’s world?” and my response should be: “I shall try my best”. Moon does not produce light on its own. But it reflects the light of the sun when the sun disappears at night (I am not speaking scientifically here).  

When every Christian in the world can respond to Jesus’ question saying, “I shall try my best”, then the darkness of the world will be eliminated. Our failure to follow Christ by becoming his reflection is also the cause of darkness in the world today.