CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
What
significance does the celebration of Christmas have for us in India this year?
In a country
where 25th December is being promoted by the Government as Good
Governance Day, when in reality the large body of citizens is being adversely
affected by the political manipulation of governance, the message of Christmas
comes to us in Isaiah 9:6-7
For
a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his
shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father,
Prince of Peace. His authority shall grow continually, and there shall be
endless peace for the throne of David and his kingdom. He will establish and
uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time onward and
forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
In a country where fundamentalism and communalism are
breeding hatred, intolerance and violence, Ephesians 2:14-19 reminds us about
the importance of Jesus:
For
he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken
down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the
law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one
new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both
groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that
hostility through it . . . for through
him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no
longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also
members of the household of God,
When in our
country many (the poor, women, children, dalits, tribals/adivasis, the
disabled, the discriminated, the stigmatized . . .) are becoming victims of the
policies and strategies of development, Mary brings a message of transformative
hope for the oppressed and the downtrodden in Luke 1:46- 53
“My soul
magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has
looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from
now on all generations will call me blessed;
for the
Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
His mercy is for those who fear
him from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his
arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the
powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with
good things, and sent the rich away
empty.
In times of
natural calamities, be it floods or drought, the Christmas message is that God
is Emmanuel “God with us”.
Indeed the Word has become flesh and dwelt among us
(John 1:14). Here is God pitching a tent in our midst and travelling with us
through all the “wilderness” calamitous experiences of life. This Jesus assures
us, “I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matt.28:20)
In a world
where humans are struggling with suffering and sin, the Christmas message as
recorded in Hebrews 2:17-18 and Hebrews 4:15-16 is
Therefore
he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he
might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a
sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was
tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
For
we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses,
but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without
sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we
may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Joy to the world, the Lord has come; let us receive him in our hearts,
families, communities and all creation!
Rev. Dr. Roger Gaikwad
General Secretary
National Council of Churches in India.
If you cannot see the video, click here: https://youtu.be/5UiQAU79kPo
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