The Hindu Article - Christmas, a festival for all

[Guest guest]

Namaste:

 

The celebration of Christmas is an happy occasion for all of us and

it reminds that the God's manifestation is an expression of finding

unity in diversity.

 

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

 

Ram Chandran

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Date:25/12/2002 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2002/12/25/stories/2002122501210900.htm

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Miscellaneous - Religion

 

Christmas, a festival for all

 

CHENNAI DEC. 25 . Christmas is an event in which God becoming man was

manifested to the whole world. God revealed His plan of identifying

Himself with all humanity so that He belongs to every nation and

race. Christmas proclaims that God has chosen to live among us — that

is why He is called Emmanuel. Though God chose to be born in

Bethlehem as a child of Mary and Joseph in the country of Judah, He

came to meet the whole human race. It is proved by the visit of the

Maggi from the East. This event is colourfully narrated in the Gospel

of Mathew (Ch. 2:1-12).

 

The Maggi represented not only the people of the Eastern world, but

also all people, besides the Jews in whose race Jesus was born. The

fact that Christmas was first celebrated in the East from the Fourth

Century and the fact that the visit of Maggi was celebrated much

before Christmas itself, shows that its significance was felt to be

more universal and embracing all nations and people. Subsequently it

came to be celebrated in the western world as people celebrate it

today all over the world.

 

The symbols of Christmas are also universal that people belonging to

any race and culture feel at home with them. The Star, cake, carols,

pictures of the Mother and the Child inspire and evoke positive

emotions in any human heart. Particularly the symbol of the Child

attracts any person with a loving heart. Hence Christmas is a

celebration inviting all human beings to rejoice at the Divine

solidarity of all people, since God has become one of us and has

shared our life in all things except sin. The festival is a beautiful

occasion to bring together people of different religions and thus

remove all divisions and separations. Jesus has come to unite all,

removing all barriers.

 

May this special Christmas be a source of great peace and joy to all

people and create harmony among different communities. After all we

are all humans before being a Christian, a Muslim or a Hindu. That is

what God has come to tell us with the smile of a little child. As the

birth of a baby makes the whole family happy, so the festival of

Christmas that celebrates the birth of a Divine Child makes the

family of mankind joyful and peaceful. Let this Christmas once again

resound the heavenly message: "I am here with good news for you,

which brings great joy to all people."

 

Fr. Xavier Irudayaraj S.J.,

Chennai.

 

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