CHRISTMAS
“Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least
commandments and shall teach men so, he shall be
called the least in the kingdom of heaven, but who
so ever shall do and teach them, the same shall be
called great in the kingdom of heaven.”
Sermon on Mount (St. Mathew -5-19)
The world was as hypo critic and dominated by evil person’s two millenniums back as it is to-day. The heathens, although had their beliefs at piety too had turned so dogmatic that a messiah was needed to set the things right Even the priests and religious preachers would ask people to remain away from common am but would commit the sins themselves.
There was a wide gap between the precept and practice as it is in the whole spectrum of social and political life in the materialist world today. Lord Krishna had made a prophecy in the Gita long back.
Yada yada hi dharmasya glanirbhavati Bharata
Abhyuthandharmasya tadatmanam srijyamyaham
Paritranaya Sadhunam vinashaya cha dushkrutam
Dharmasansthapnarthaya sambhavami yuge yuge
(Gita-ch.4)
(Whenever religious precepts lose their value and evils increase god incarnates in human shape. He incarnates in all the ages to give relief to the pious and to do away with the evil and to establish true precepts of religion)
But who will be the Messiah to save the terror stricken people from the Jew tormentors. He may have to face death. But the world history is a saga of great men sacrificing their lives for a right cause-for the salvation of man. And Jesus was born in the troubled Middle East in the year 4 BC when Herod the great died – the great soul that was to be crucified when he was only 33. God gave his Prophet only 33 years to be the greatest saviour of humanity of the age. Near about 2000 million people celebrate the birth of Christ throughout the world.
Lo! The Messiah is born of Virgin many. Three wise men of the East came and gave their blessings to the new born who would give solace to the poor and the tormented. It is fresh to the memory of the people throughout the world. Why to think of crucifixion on this holy day. He would resurrect soon. To-day we have to rejoice his nativity alone.
25th of December is the auspicious day. But the preparations start days back. It is a day of rejoicings for the children as also the religious and holiday spirit of Christmas personified. He is Christmas Eve. They are rewarded for their patience. The presents are there on their beds on the Christmas day. It is a day of feasts and presents. People would greet one another personally or through greeting cards.
Birthday of Jesus is celebrated throughout the world as if it is the birthday of children in all the households, Christmas cakes are prepared, drawing rooms are decorated. Streets and buildings have a flash of multicolored lights the whole night. There is a display of firework. Visit Ranchi in Bihar. Christmas night is more joyful than the Diwali night of Mumbai. Kerala is agog with joy and pleasure – so are all the Christmas pockets in India.
The day has dawned. The church bells are ringing. Before you drown yourself in pleasure and parties have the blessings of the Bishop or the priest. On the TV screen you can have the blessings of the Pope too. Have you arranged a party? No. then you has to join a big social gathering-your friend might have arranged. You may have the fun the whole night
The times have changed. The prophet had said,
“No man can serve two masters: for either he
will hate the one and love the other; or
else he will hold to the one, and despise the
other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
(Sermon on the Mount)
But even in celebrating this birthday we don’t fed shy of serving mammon. The day is just a display of our materialistic gains. We nay console ourselves that it is a day of prayers too. The word of the Prophet has crossed the seven seas. He is a universal gift of peace and piety to the world. Follow his footsteps and the world would be worth living. Mammon you can’t learn. But be sober – have a balance and Christmas will bring you both peace and prosperity. Mere sermons won’t do. Let us practice them too not for the sake of the Prophet who sacrificed himself cross but for ourselves to enjoy the realm of heavenly joy.