Christmas message December 2011
We celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the son of God in Bethlehem of Palestine in Israel 2011 years ago. It is the feast of the birth of messiah and saviour of humanity. It is the feast of God entering our human world to fill it with his loving presence and lead us out of darkness to the light of divine. The evangelist Mathew in his gospel writes that the birth of Jesus in the following words ,
“Now the birth of Jesus the messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph being a righteous men and unwillingly to expose her to the public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly .but just when he had resolved to do so, an angel of the lord appeared to him in a dream and said Joseph son of David, do not afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her womb, is from the holy spirit, she will bear a son and you are to name him jesus, for he will save your people from their sins. All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by lord through prophets look the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall name him Emmanuel which means god is with us. When Joseph awoke from the sleep he did as the angel of the lord commanded him, he took her as his wife but had no marital relations with her until she had born a son and he named him Jesus”
Jesus birth took place in Bethlehem when Joseph had come from Nazareth with his wife Mary to register his name in his own city in the census ordered by roman emperor Augustus. The gospel says the birth of Jesus took place in a manger that is in a stable where the shepherds were resting with their animals. Jesus was born in a cave because there was no space for him in the inn.
The evangelist look writes “In the region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping and watching over their flock by night. Then an angle of the lord stood before them and the glory of the lord shone around them and they were terrified. But the angel of the lord said unto them does not be afraid, for see l a m bringing you good news of joys for all people. To you is born a child this day in the city of David, a saviour who is the messiah, the lord.
The birth of Jesus in a stable shows a paradox of life, the creator of the world had no decent place to be born; hence he was born as an outcaste, away from inhabited boundary of human world
It is God’s love for us that he sent Jesus into the world .the st.John the evangelist in his gospel writes again ‘for god so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. Indeed god deed not send son in the world to condemn the world, but so that the world can be saved through him. Out of love and compassion for humanity became human to save us from sin and show us the way to eternal life.
Christmas comes once a year, but its message of joy, love and peace should not be reduced to the day of Christmas alone. The message of Christmas is for all and for the whole year. The birth of Jesus Christ becomes reality in our lies when we are moved by faith, hope and love and welcome Jesus into our lives
Charismas is best known for its merry making aspects such as cake,gifts,parties,and illumination and not for its spiritual mening.sometimes we conveniently forget the reasons for Christmas is Jesus. As human beings we need both, some moments of festivity and also periodical spiritual renewal. Unfortunately we end up on exterior celebration and forget spiritual renewal
At the birth of Jesus the angels appeared to shepherd and gave them good news of the birth of messiah. Then they saw a multitude of angels singing glory to god in the highest and earth peace to all in whom god delights. Gods glory is being revealed in the birth of Jesus Christ and he comes with the message of peace, and good will from god to all people of goodwill.christmas is therefore invites us all to be people of good will, people ready to share, ready to forgive and forget offences done against us.
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