CHRISTMAS: God’s Unconditional Love & Mercy

  •   Wed, Dec 25 2024
  •   By Fr Richard Mascarenhas SJ

December 25, 2024

What is Christmas all about? Crib, Cards, Carols, Cake, Christmas Tree, Christmas Decorations, Christmas Gifts, Christmas Santa or much more than that? What is the real meaning of Christmas? What is the reason for the Season? We shall try to think about that for the next couple of minutes. Of all the feasts in Christian Calendar it is Christmas that brings great joy, happiness, tenderness and peace in the hearts and homes of all of us. Hence, Christmas is an event of light; it is a feast of light. The season of Christmas resonate the theme of light, and the Baby in the manger is the Light of the world. The people walking in the darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned (Is 9:2).

Our God is the one who forgives our sins and forgets the sins of the sinner and remembers only the person. Once an old woman in the village was said to be receiving divine apparitions. The local priest demanded proof for their authenticity. “When God next appear to you,” he said, “ask him to tell you my sins which are known to him alone. That should be evidence enough”. The woman returned a month later and the priest asked if God had appeared to her again. She said, “He had”. “Did you put the question to Him?” “I did “. “And what did he say?” “He said, “Tell your priest I have forgotten his sins”.

More than two thousand years ago our loving and merciful God came into this world in the form of a human person. “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.” (Jn 3:16). He did so because, when he saw the world, he found it full of sin, darkness and shapeless. He wanted to bring light, grace and give a new shape with his unconditional love and mercy. His merciful love cleansed the whole humanity and filled it with his abundant grace for a new life with his Son Jesus Christ.

Yes, it is once again Christmas! At this Christmas we are not celebrating the mere birthday of our Lord Jesus; we are celebrating His birth. We are not merely celebrating an event which took place more than 2000 years ago in history; we are participating in grace which is flowing right here and now in mystery. We are not merely going to remember Jesus; we are going to actually meet him. If we come with faith and love, we too will hear the angels sing to us: “this day is born for you a Saviour!” “Unto us a child is born; unto us a Son is given; and He shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, and Prince of Peace.” (Is 9:6)

Christmas is also a reminder that God cares for us and loves us. We celebrate this event with great joy and welcome Jesus into our hearts. It is the time for jay, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for reuniting with family and friends, for sharing happiness with each other. Christmas is celebrated to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, who Christians believe is the Son of God. It’s the celebration of God’s love for the entire world through the birth of the Christ Jesus.      

Let us then approach Him with deep faith and love, with awe and wonder, with praise and reverence, just like the shepherds of Bethlehem and the wise men of the East. And what shall we offer Him? For a start let us offer Him our darkness that He may brighten us with His light, for He has come as the light of the world. When we receive Him in the Holy Eucharist on Christmas day, all the darkness in us will be dispelled, and will be lit up with His light and love. Let us also offer him our weaknesses that He may strengthen us with His power. Finally and more importantly let us offer Him our sinfulness that He may (by forgiving us) make us pure, holy and loving as He is pure, holy and loving.

In Christmas we are celebrating our liberation, for our sins may be red as scarlet yet He will make them white as wool (Is 1:18); we may be enslaved by our weaknesses and selfishness, yet God breaks our chains and gives us a victory through Jesus Christ Our Lord (Rom 7:25). In Christmas we are celebrating the fact that life has become infinitely more precious and beautiful because the most significant person in the world, the Son of God himself loves us and says to us: “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you (Jn 15:9). He makes all things new (Rev 21:5). In Christmas therefore, we are celebrating the birth of love Incarnate.

The Christmas story is one of the gladdest as well as saddest tales ever told. It is the gladdest because God loved us so much He gave us His own Son. It is the saddest because when He came, there was no room in the Inn (Lk 2:7) and his mother had to lay Him in a manger. There was room for the rich people but no room for God’s own Son! Today, when He comes and knocks at the door of our hearts will He find place for His dwelling? If there is sufficient place then we need to let Him in and if there is lack place better we prepare enough and sufficient place to welcome Him eagerly and lovingly into our hearts. Let me end by expanding the letters of the word CHRISTMAS as follows:

C is for the Christ Child Sleeping on the hay, H is for the Heavenly Host Who worshipped him that day, R is for the radiance On Mary’s holy face, I is for the lowly inn – A poor and humble place, S is for the star that shone to guide the shepherds there, T is for the travelers who brought him treasures rare, M is for the manger where he lay his little head, A is for the angels who hovered round his bed and S is for the saviour who brought peace and hope to earth on the wondrous night we celebrate – the night of Jesus’ birth.

Today Christmas asks of us a tough question. If Jesus were to come today, how would he come? As a matter of fact, he is already there standing and knocking at the door. Do we close the doors of our hearts to Jesus, who is looking for a place to be born in our lives? Christmas is not only an event of the past, but more importantly – it is also an event of today and each day, and as we solemnly celebrate it very soon, we joyfully acclaim – “TODAY IS BORN OUR SAVIOUR – CHRIST THE LORD”

May all of you have a joyful Christmas filled with the abiding presence of the Lord!

 

 

 

 
By Fr Richard Mascarenhas SJ
Fr Richard Mascarenhas SJ is a Jesuit priest belonging to the Karnataka province. He is interested in Spiritual and pastoral ministries. Presently he serves as the assistant parish priest at the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Health Harihar, Karnataka.
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Comment on this article

  • KS Mayya, Mangalore/Bangalore

    Thu, Dec 26 2024

    Merry Christmas to all.

  • HENRY MISQUITH, INDIA

    Wed, Dec 25 2024

    On this Christmas day , let's unwrap the true gifts; love , hope and the joy of being surrounded by those who matter most.


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Title: CHRISTMAS: God’s Unconditional Love & Mercy



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