Christmas Message

The Catholic Bishops’ Conference in its Christmas message stated: “This is a difficult moment in our country. Since incomes and wages have not increased in proportion to the prices of essential commodities of food. medicine, fuel, electricity and water bills, people have to Cut edges to manage with the bare minimum: malnutrition is on the increase. Especially affected are our children. Let our celebration of Christmas be marked by simplicity and without extravagance.”

The full text of the statement: “Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus. the Son of God and Son of Mary. For a meaningful and fruitful celebration of this birth we need to reflect deeply on His words with regard to His mission on earth.

In the interrogation at the trial before Pilate, Jesus told him: “Yes. I am a king. I was born for this: to bear witness to the truth: and all who are on the side of truth listen to my voice” (Jn. 18:37). Christmas, therefore. calls us to be truthful in life. Jesus who on an earlier occasion proclaimed himself as “the truth” taught: “If you make my words your home… you will learn the truth and the truth will make you free… So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed” (Jn 8:31 & 36).

Respect and acceptance of truth is a core value in religion that rids the society of all ills of falsehood. dishonesty and corruption in governance and in the day-to-day life of the people. In this respect we also see a grave need to unite all our fellow citizens, irrespective of their differences and work for the common good of all. This is the path to peace and true prosperity in the country.

The Sacred Scriptures elaborate further;”His state was divine. yet He did not cling to His equality with God but emptied Himself….. and became as men are… even to accepting death” (Phil. 2:6 & 7). These words reveal the depth of meaning of the birth of Jesus impelling us to share what we have until we experience that such can be achieved only in responding to the needs of those who struggle to make ends meet.

This is a difficult moment in our country. Since incomes and wages have not increased in proportion to the prices of essential commodities of food. medicine, fuel, electricity and water bills, people have to cut edges to manage with the bare minimum: malnutrition is on the increase. Especially affected are our children. Let our celebration of Christmas be marked by simplicity and without extravagance. To be on the side of truth. let us listen to the voice of Jesus who tells us: “in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine. you did it to me” (Mt. 25:40). That alone guarantees our encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christmas brings us also to a greater awareness of’ the truth about human realities and aspirations that transcend mere material development and prosperity. Jesus, the Son of God. by assuming our human nature brings us to a deeper understanding of the dignity of the human person and that calls us to respect the basic rights and freedoms, and in truth to ensure that justice is meted out in the society by all concerned. We cannot but reiterate that our concern for the truth behind the Easter Sunday attacks does continue. We call upon all those responsible to support the efforts for an independent investigation.

We wish our faithful and all women and men who have won God’s favour. peace and joy and the blessings of Christmas.