Christmas message : Light, peace and love
At the birth of Jesus the band of Angels sang: Glory to God in the highest and may the light of Christmas brighten our lives. May love, peace and harmony bind us in universal brotherhood. Bangladesh has a long tradition of inter-religious and inter-cultural
dialogue and harmony. May this harmony be
more and more intensified in Bangladesh
Father Patrick Gomes
Today December 25 joining with the whole Christian world the Christian community celebrates with due solemnity the great feast of Christs birth: Christmas. There is joyful celebration of holy Mass presided by Catholic priest followed by exchange of Christmas greetings. At home people enjoy Christmas Pitha (local cake) like Chitoi, Bikke, Kuli, Patshepta, Pakon and many other kinds. Various groups sing Christmas carols (Kirton). All these festivities are centering one historical event: The manifestation of Gods love and peace through his son Jesus Christ who is the light of the world.
Christmas: a feast of light: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light (Is 9:1). This prophecy of prophet Isaiah never ceases to touch us, especially when we hear it proclaimed in the liturgy of Christmas night on December 24. This is not simply an emotional or sentimental matter. It moves us because it states the deep reality of what we are: a people who walk, and all around us and within us as well there is darkness and light. In this night, as the spirit of darkness enfolds the world, there takes place anew the event which always amazes and surprises us: the people who
walk see a great light. A light which makes us reflect on this mystery: the mystery of walking and seeing.
God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all (1 Jn 1:5). Yet on the part of the people there are times of both light and darkness, fidelity and infidelity, obedience, and rebellion; times of being a pilgrim people and times of being a people adrift.
Light and Darkness: In our personal history too, there are both bright and dark moments, lights and shadows. If we love God and our brothers and sisters, we walk in the light; but if our heart is closed, if we are dominated by pride, deceit, self-seeking, then darkness falls within us and around us. Whoever hates his brother writes the Apostle John is in the darkness; he walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has blinded his eyes (1 Jn 2:11).
Jesus is Love incarnate: The grace which was revealed in our world is Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, true man and true God. He has entered our history; he has shared our journey. He came to free us from darkness and to grant us light.
In him was revealed the grace, the mercy, and the tender love of the Father: Jesus is Love incarnate. He is not simply a teacher of wisdom, he is not an ideal for which we strive while knowing that we are hopelessly distant from it. He is the meaning of life and history, who has pitched his tent in our midst (John 1:14).
The shepherds of Christmas: The shepherds were the first to see this tent, to receive the news of Jesus birth.
They were the first because they were among the last, the outcast. And they were the first because they were awake, keeping watch in the night, guarding their flocks.
Together with them, let us pause before the Child, let us pause in silence. Together with them, let us thank the Lord for having given Jesus to us, and with them let us raise from the depths of our hearts the praises of his fidelity: We bless you, Lord God most high, who lowered yourself for our sake. You are immense, and you made yourself small; you are rich and you made yourself poor; you are all-powerful and you made yourself vulnerable.
Christmas Joy: During Christmas let us share the joy of the Gospel: God loves us, he so loves us that he gave us his Son to be our brother, to be light in our darkness.
To us the Lord repeats: Do not be afraid! (Lk 2:10).There may be many challenges in life; many discouraging horrors, painful events like violence and various turmoil.
In the midst of these, the heavenly voice comes to each one of us: Do not be afraid! Our Father is patient, he loves us, he gives us Jesus to guide us on the way which leads to the promised land. Jesus is the light who brightens the darkness.
He is our peace. Peace on earth: At the birth of Jesus the band of Angels sang: Glory to God in the highest and . May the light of Christmas brighten our lives. May love, peace and harmony bind us in universal brotherhood. Bangladesh has a long tradition of inter-religious and inter-cultural dialogue and harmony. May this harmony be more and more intensified in Bangladesh a land of many religions and many cultures.
To our Muslim, Hindu, Christian and Buddhist brothers and sisters I wish: Merry Christmas and a very prosperous new year.
The writer is a Catholic priest and Convenor of The Commission for Christian Unity Interreligious Dialogue and Harmony, Rajshahi Catholic Diocese
