CHRISTMAS - MEANINGFUL REFLECTION

*✝️ REFLECTION CAPSULES FOR THE DAY – _Dec 25, 2022: Sunday_* *"Making our hearts a 'place of party' to celebrate God's love and mercy!"* *(Based on the Solemnity of Christmas - the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, _Cycle A)_* Tony Campolo, an American author in his book, “The Kingdom of God is a party” narrates a heart-touching experience… One, very early morning, Tony sat in a cafe. >> As he was drinking coffee at the counter, a group of prostitutes walked in and took up the stools around him. One of the girls, Agnes, lamented the fact that not only was it her birthday tomorrow but that she never had a birthday party in life. >> Tony thought it would be a great idea to surprise Agnes with a birthday party! He got the necessary information from the café owner that the girls came in every morning around 3:30 am. >> They both agreed to set up the place for a party - a surprise birthday party for Agnes! Word somehow got out on the street, so that by 3:15 the next morning the place was packed with prostitutes, the cafe owner and his wife, and Tony. When Agnes walked in she saw… … banners and balloons; the Café Owner holding a birthday cake ... and everyone screaming out “Happy Birthday!” Agnes was overwhelmed with deep emotions! >> She was stunned and shaken >> Her friend grabbed her arm to steady her Tears poured down her face as the crowd continued to sing “Happy Birthday to you….” It was a party that was hard to believe… … a party that celebrated Love - inviting all to know that God wants everyone to come to His Heart of Love! … a party that celebrated Mercy - acceptance of human beings as images of the Loving God! Am I willing to make my heart a “place of party” to celebrate love and mercy… … by accepting the unwanted, the rejected and the lonely? … by sharing the precious gifts of God’s Mercy and Love to all? Christmas is the beautiful feast of God becoming man, and hosting “a Divine Party - celebrating His Love and Mercy!” Christmas is the holy and happy day when we celebrate the coming of God’s Son into the world - the incarnation of God (Cf. Jn 1:14)… … celebrating His intense and saving love for us (Cf. Jn 3:16) St Mathew presents the narration of the Birth of Christ with the account of the genealogy of Christ (Cf. Mt 1:1-17) This is one of the passages of the Bible that many of us tend to skim through or altogether skip it! >> The very long list of hard-to-pronounce names; the mention of some dubious personalities; the lack of awareness of the lives of many of those persons… … all of these may cause us to “omit the reading and reflection” of the Genealogy! But St Matthew very purposely introduces us to the Person of Jesus Christ - the Saviour of the world - by spelling out His genealogy! >> This is his way of saying, “What I’m going to tell you is something that has actually occurred in history - in time and space!” And this brings to us an important and distinguishing characteristic of Christianity: the core of Christianity is not a set of teachings, but it is about what God has done for us - our redemption from sins!   >> This is expressed in the very meaning of the name Jesus: JESUS means “God saves!” (The name JESUS, is the shortest and simplest prayer that we can make – as we call on the salvific power of God [Cf. Rom 10:13]) Christmas, therefore, comes with the strong message that “every external act of festivity ought to be accompanied by an internal surrender of one’s life to Christ, our Saviour!” >> The decorations that we do, find authentic meaning, when we allow Christ’s Love to glitter our life! >> The sweets, cakes and other food that we prepare, have real value, when we allow our faith in Christ to nourish and nurture us! >> The stars we put up and the carols we sing, find true importance, when we allow Christ’s Mercy to radiate and harmonise us! That is why, the greatest and the truest act in the celebration of Christmas is accepting Jesus as the Saviour of our lives! >> All other external expressions ought to flow forth or lead towards this sole requirement: Jesus is to be born in our hearts! We are also called to reflect on some other essential messages of the Solemnity of Christmas . 1. Christmas is the beautiful saga of God humbling Himself, and as the Good Shepherd (Cf. Jn 10:11) going to any extent to win us back to him >> Birth in the manger demonstrates the abasement of the Divine >> Baby Jesus, lying on the manger is also a prefiguration of Jesus dying on the Cross, fulfilling the act of humiliation signified in Incarnation! (Cf. Phil 2:6-8) 2. Christmas is the amazing story of hope and courage >> Joseph and Mary displayed tremendous hope and courage as they join hands with the Will of God (despite the many challenges and obstacles that came their way)! >> Zechariah and Elizabeth exhibited much hope and courage, as they held fast in faithfulness, to experience the miraculous birth of John, the precursor of Jesus >> The shepherds and the wise men showed much hope and courage, as they boldly trusted in the signs given to them, which culminated in their offering of service and worship. 3. Christmas rings in the good news that “the one who trusts in God” will always be blessed! (Cf. Ps 146:5) >> Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, Elizabeth, the shepherds, the wise men - everyone experienced tremendous blessings because they “chose to trust in God!” Life often takes us through crossroads and dangerous curves >> Are we ready to make a choice - of trusting in the Lord… … and thus experiencing His mighty blessings! Christmas is indeed history - HIS story … the fantastic story of Him Who loves us immensely … the fabulous event of Him Who is born for us - for our salvation This Christmas, let us make our hearts a “place of party” to celebrate love and mercy… … by accepting the unwanted, the rejected and the lonely! … by sharing the precious gifts of God’s Mercy and Love to all! >> With much faith and joy, let us celebrate God’s intense and saving love for us! *Merry Christmas to you all!* *