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| Christmas
in these sad times We live in a world full of tragedy, much of it man-made. In our own little corner of the planet, murder and mayhem, rape and robbery seem to go on unchecked. Although there has been a tenuous but welcome suspension of hostilities between the North and the South, the record of killings in the South has been horrendous, leaving aside the LTTE's own elimination of those opposed to it. Refugees and displaced people abound in our country, droughts and floods play havoc alternately in some districts, the majority live below the poverty line and many homeless live on the streets. Can we celebrate Christmas in these sad times? We generally recall only the joyful incidents surrounding Christ's birth - angels singing and shepherds and kings paying homage to the Infant Jesus. But the Gospel also reports the slaughter of the innocents when by Herod's cruel decree all male children under two years in Bethlehem and its environs were put to death. St. Mathew writes: "In this way what the prophet Jeremiah had said came true: A sound is heard in Ramah, the sound of bitter weeping. Rachel is crying for her children; she refuses to be comforted, for they are dead." The Baby Jesus Himself escaped only because Joseph fled to Egypt with Him and Mary, His mother. So Christ was a refugee in the first weeks of his earthly life. We need to remember that Christ was born into the harsh realities of our world, into times not dissimilar to our own - violence, rebellion, sudden death, human misery and squalor. When the Holy Child was taken to the temple in Jerusalem by Joseph and Mary, the old man, Simeon, who recognized the Messiah, prophesied to Mary that "sorrow like a sharp sword, will break your own heart", thus predicting Christ's death on the cross and the pain that would pierce His mother's heart. It was this Jesus who came down to earth to die for humankind and also to show us by His life and example how to live. He gave us the Great Commandment that we love God with all our hearts and love our neighbours as ourselves. "Forgive your enemies and pray for those who persecute you and despitefully use you," He said. "Do unto others whatsoever you would that they should do unto you" was the golden rule He left behind. He urged His followers to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, welcome the stranger and visit those in prison. "Whosoever does it to one of the least of these my brothers, has done it unto Me," were His words. Down through the ages, right up to the present day, those who call themselves by His name have tried to follow His example. Mother Teresa is a famous example, but there are hundreds of unknown, ordinary people who, inspired by His life and teaching, light a candle wherever they live. A Sunday newspaper carried the heart-warming story of a couple who travelled from Mount Lavinia to distant Dehiowita to bring succour to a poor family in distress. This poor family couldn't afford to give their young son with a congenital heart ailment the surgery that would restore him to good health. Thanks to the intervention of these good people and others who responded to the appeal they made on behalf of the boy, the child received a new lease of life after he underwent surgery at the Apollo Hospital. Yet when the newspaper contacted the couple, they asked that their names be kept out of any story that was published. "We pray for those in need and try to help in any way we can, but the glory belongs to God," was what they said. So we continually receive fresh evidence of how Christ lives and works today through humble followers of His name. His birth brought hope to a despairing world. We know that God is with us in every dark and desperate situation. There is no evil that men can do, out of which God cannot bring good. Christmas is for these sad times, to remind us of God's presence with us and of His transforming power in our lives. In
a book called ‘The Shade of His Hand’ by Michael Hollings
and Etta Gullick, there is this prayer: "Lord, I do not understand
why man can do such evil things. Ordinary men become violent, beat
the helpless, knife each other. Help us to perceive the strength
of the power of evil which can easily take control of us if we forget
You, and fail to call on Your strength to make us loving rather
than hating. Deliver us from evil, Lord." "Stupendous
height of heavenly love, **** |
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