Sunday, December 08, 2013
Happy Christmas
This is Christmas Season and
there is every reason, for everything else but Christmas. Even Christmas day is
a confusion. With major part of the world celebrating Christmas on 25th
Dec and some parts celebrating it on 6th Jan. The point is why are
we celebrating Christmas and not sharing it?
Why is Christmas regaled to a
date and not an everyday affair? We celebrate the birth of Christ, and after
that does He cease to live in our lives? We indulge in symbolism of depicting Christ with cribs put
up in our homes and parishes, but cannot see the Christ in the slums around us.
The crib has lifeless statues of the Holy Family and shepherds, but we cannot
see life that is deprived of basics around us. When will we share Christmas?
Brightly lit stars are hung to depict
the star that signaled the birth of Christ, but we cannot be stars to bring in
a small light of joy into someone’s life. Most religions one can associate it with
a God they worship. If it is Diwali one can immediately relate to Goddess
Laxmi. If it is Ganesh Chaturthi one can associate it with Lord Ganesh. If it Eid
one can relate to the Prophet Mohammed and his teachings…………but if it is Christmas, it relates to ‘Santa
Claus or Frosty the Snowman’, not just for the world but for many Christians too.
So even Christ is out of Christmas, to the extent kids write notes to Santa
Claus on what they want for Christmas, but never a thought of making a birthday
card for Christ, and seeing what we can gift Him through someone who is deprived.
Family activity of preparing
sweets before Christmas is slowly diminishing, with cakes and candies being purchased.
Either ways the sweets which are distributed is an obligation that gets done
with, instead being sweet to people. Family meal over a table at home is a now table
booked at a swanky restaurant for some. Either ways very rare one thinks of a
meal getting packed for someone who maybe hungry on Christmas. Good planning
goes towards clothes needed to be bought for Christmas, but the message of
Christmas is forgotten that Christ was born in a manger with poor swaddling clothes.
Not that we should not dress for the occasion of Christmas, but can we get
someone dressed along with us, who may not be in a position to do so? Instead
generosity gets limited to giving away old clothes to the poor?
Christians are known for their
educational institutions in India, but how many end up ‘really’ educated? How
many think of educating someone? Sponsoring a child or acts of charity is good
but incomplete if the Christ in us cannot physically reach out and touch. With
all the educational institutions Christians end up as ‘employment seekers’ and not
‘employment creators’. With all the message of Christ that gets preached during
Christmas, many don’t even remember it, once the service is over. What is
remembered is where one has to party on Christmas day. When has ever a cake
been cut at such parties and ‘Happy Birthday’ sung for Christ?
Christ lived and died on the
cross for us, but are we even living for anyone? There is no time now even
for family any more. Families now a days are connected over Facebook and social
media, but not connected with Christ. When we are not living for anyone, how on
earth are we going to die for anyone? Even after death we cannot think of ‘organ
donation’ which can save lives, and give sight to the blind. That’s how selfish we have become. Examples of
Christ are no longer visible in Christian lives, but the least we can do is
when we celebrate Christmas, can we share it?
Even Christmas wishes are
conveyed as ‘Merry Christmas’ and no longer conveying happiness commemorating
the birth of Christ, but exploring ways to merriment. Instead of just wishing
someone Happy Christmas, can we explore what happiness we can bring into
someone’s life this Christmas?
Comments:
<< Home
thanks Sunny for a beautiful thought. True today Christmas has become a day without Jesus Christ being at the Centre of this day. hope we can bring and share Christ with the needy n the poor.
wishing you a blessful n holy Christmas.
joseph dsouza
wishing you a blessful n holy Christmas.
joseph dsouza
# posted by 
: 3:34 AM
: 3:34 AM
Thank you Sunny, I fully agree with you. But our liturgy is designed this way to make it more ritualistic. importance is given for celebration. Homilies are so boring that it neither connects you with God nor with the world. Even during the mass once the communion is distributed service is ended abruptly and everyone start talking/ wishing each other with utter disregard to the people who are waiting back and praying. We have totally become ritualistic and I really doubt whether we will change.
# posted by : 6:22 AM
: 6:22 AM
Hey Sunny,
The church wants married priests. You surely have the traits with your profound messages.
Joe
The church wants married priests. You surely have the traits with your profound messages.
Joe
HI sunny,
Nicely explained the reality of 21st century , irrespective of any religious path, it is important to understand our society and culture
where we are heading towards in the advanced techno world environment.
I totally believe that we are installed into the society with different parameters, but that doesn't mean the guidance and path shown by Jesus for humanity is to denied, moreover our system and society is involved in imagination of the world which is meant for self-freedom & self-satisfaction.
Your point is million time valid, we as a part of society are we going to wake up and update future generation with the knowledge of reality which literally said by all religions
“ Treat thy neighbor thy as thy self”
Thanks for your effort
Regards
Mubi
Post a Comment
Nicely explained the reality of 21st century , irrespective of any religious path, it is important to understand our society and culture
where we are heading towards in the advanced techno world environment.
I totally believe that we are installed into the society with different parameters, but that doesn't mean the guidance and path shown by Jesus for humanity is to denied, moreover our system and society is involved in imagination of the world which is meant for self-freedom & self-satisfaction.
Your point is million time valid, we as a part of society are we going to wake up and update future generation with the knowledge of reality which literally said by all religions
“ Treat thy neighbor thy as thy self”
Thanks for your effort
Regards
Mubi
# posted by : 9:37 PM
: 9:37 PM Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]