by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to those on whom His favour rests.
This Christmas morn, let us all rejoice in the birth of Jesus, our Saviour. Love incarnate – true God and true man – came down to earth to save wounded humanity; and to open the door to eternal salvation. He came, not because we deserved to be saved, but because of our Father’s bountiful grace and mercy.
On December 6, a meteorite fell in Eastern Siberia, Russia. As it fell through the atmosphere and burnt up, it was reported that it gave off a bright glow in the sky over a few regions in Siberia. When it burnt up, the glow was gone and all was dark once more.
Unlike the meteorite, Jesus is the light not only of one region of the world, but of the entire world. “God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race” (Titus 2:11). Jesus is the “True Light coming into the world. The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it” (John 1:5).
By his birth, death and resurrection, he has lit up the darkness of sin and death. Though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil (Psalm 23), if we hold on to the living Lord, if we allow ourselves to be renewed by the Holy Spirit whom He richly pours out on us.
Last Christmas Eve, Pope Francis reminded us that: “God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all” (1 John 1:5). Yet on the part of the people, there are times of both light and darkness, fidelity and infidelity, obedience, and rebellion; times of being a pilgrim people and times of being a people adrift.
In our personal history, too, there are both bright and dark moments, lights and shadows. If we love God and our brothers and sisters, we walk in the light; but if our heart is closed, if we are dominated by pride, deceit, self-seeking, then darkness falls within us and around us…Our Father is patient, he loves us, he gives us Jesus to guide us on the way which leads to the promised land. Jesus is the light who brightens the darkness. He is our peace.
By His birth, He calls us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world also. But He does not leave us alone to take on this challenge. The Word became flesh and dwells among us. He is here with us – every moment of every day; journeying with us, guiding us, encouraging us to follow His Commandments and to see Him in our brothers and sisters and in all His creation.
So, while we exchange gifts with our families and friends today, and sit around tables laden with Christmas goodies, find some time today, and during this Advent season, to reach out to those in need. Martin Luther King Jr rightly said that “life’s most urgent question is: What are you doing for others?” Let us be merciful.
Pope Francis has said in his Apostolic Letter, ‘Misericordia et Misera’ (Mercy and Misery), which was issued on November 21, that we are still living in a “time of mercy… Mercy cannot become a mere parenthesis in the life of the Church…the door of mercy of our heart continues to remain wide open.” Inter alia,
- he declared that the Church’s focus on God’s mercy must continue with individual acts of kindness, assistance to the poor and with encouraging Catholics to participate in the sacrament of reconciliation and making it easier for them to do so;
- he said that a special place in the Church must be given to families, especially at a time when the very meaning of family is in crisis;
- he urged the entire Church to celebrate, on the 33rd Sunday of Ordinary Time, the World Day of the Poor. This would fall a week before the feast of Christ the King and would be “the worthiest way to prepare” to acknowledge the kingship of Christ, “who identified with the little ones and the poor and who will judge us on our works of mercy”.
Let us heed the Holy Father’s words as we celebrate the birth of our Lord and as we strive to act as His instruments to build a better world: “Now is the time to unleash the creativity of mercy, to bring about new undertakings, the fruit of grace.” Wishing you all a Blessed and Holy Christmas and a grace-filled New Year!
