Bangalore: Archbishop, CM greet people on Christmas with message of peace
From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, Dec 24: When media headlines scream of dark events like rapes, murders, gunfire, violence, wars, children orphaned, broken families, broken hearts and lives shattered, ''peace on earth, goodwill to men," is the message of Christmas that angels brought and Bangalore Archbishop Bernard Moras reminded the people in his Christmas message to the people.
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah has also extended a similar message of peace and he said the message of Jesus Christ, who preached peace to mankind and love to all, especially the poorer and downtrodden sections was relevant even now.
The chief minister in his message said the life, teachings and message of Jesus Christ, the values he propounded on brotherhood of mankind and love of neighbours, especially the poor and the downtrodden, and his message of peace and love in the present strife-torn world affected by terrorism, was more relevant.
Archbishop Moras, in his message, said God chose to enter our world and share our human limits in Jesus at Christmas.
While the story of Jesus' birth is sweet and precious, it is also stark and real, he said pointing out that taxes and a census displace the family of Joseph and Mary from its home at the most important time, just when a baby is about to be born. The poor family has to take shelter in a manger.
There is no room for them in the inn. As Jesus is born, common folks like the shepherds have a great celebration, powerful people like the king and the leaders jealously plot murder to protect their power, the young mother marvels at the beauty of her child and wonders what he will be, the father must act decisively to care for his new family, gifts are exchange by people from the east who came searching for the new born king, the Archbishop said recounting the essence of Christmas and said it is the Christmas in the real world.
Pope Francis recently interviewed said about Christmas, “God has willed to share our human condition to the point of making himself one of us in the Person of Jesus," the Pope continued. But he added that even more surprising is that Jesus becomes man not in “an ideal world, an idyllic [world], but in this real world, marked by so many things, good and bad, marked by divisions, wickedness, poverty, arrogance and wars.," the Archbishop said.
This is the story of Jesus' birth. This is the way Jesus chose to come to earth. Not as a conquering king, but as one of us. Not in a royal procession isolated from the realities of human struggle, but in the middle of human struggle. Jesus anchored himself to our world through the common and everyday realities of our lives so we could know our God is for real. Jesus came to insure we find peace by taking part in our troubled world.
The headlines that we hear were the headlines he lived, the Archbishop said pointing out that more than a sentimental journey Christmas is a reminder that God loved us so much that he would wear human skin and face human challenge so we could find peace in him.
Christmas is then an assurance of God with us in all our struggle and pain. Christmas is a promise of inner spiritual peace as storms rage around us. Christmas is a blessing of God’s peaceful presence with his people in troubled times.
Reflecting on the birth of Jesus, Pope Francis said “Christmas is a feast of confidence and hope that overcomes uncertainty and pessimism." The reason for our hope, he said, is this: “God is with us, and God still trusts us."
"Peace on earth, goodwill to men!" That's God's blessing to his children at Christmas and always. May you and your family have the peace of God dwell in you at Christmas time and always, the Archbishop said.