Yet it is not the birthday of Jesus. Christmas Day is the adopted birthday of Jesus.
There is a reason to choose the northern equinox to celebrate the birth of Jesus, the Son of God. In the northern hemisphere, December 24 is the shortest day with the longest night. From then on, the daylight will increase, like the increasing days of Spring to Summer. Jesus enlightens the world. Christmas is the enlightening presence of God in our human story.
The Bible says, because of Jesus “the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them” (Matthew 11:5). In a world which is used to see the blind, the lame and the lepers as normal part of society, both the elite and the underprivileged accept the status quo.
Accepting each one’s fate is the best one could do. Life naturally ended with death. No one can change this fate of human beings. That is how everyone understood the world to be like. But Jesus does not accept the status quo.
Jesus upset the status quo. Lepers are no longer to be kept away. They are to be touched, loved and received back into a dignified life. Jesus heals the lame and gives sight to the blind. Even death is not the fate of human beings. He raises the dead to life. Jesus is powerful, but not in the way the world thinks of power. He is more powerful than what a Roman army could do in Israel.
While Romans and Jewish leaders worked on keeping up the status quo, Jesus and his disciples challenged it.
Jesus empowered the weak, the sick, the blind, and in fact all those who were denied the dignity of God given life. The most oppressive fate that made people feel helpless was death.
But Jesus could raise the dead and provides a hope that will not be buried in a grave. A new life after the earthly pilgrimage is the greatest liberation Jesus provided.
Early disciples, like their master Jesus, empowered their companions who were traumatised at the violent destruction of Jerusalem with its Temple. That was the start of a New People of Hope in the name of Jesus. The mission of Jesus has been continuing till today, through services of education, social action and healing ministries. Now we are celebrating the presence of Jesus through his disciples in action.
Like many other church groups, Berala Catholic Parish is also distributing Christmas hampers to the less advantaged in the local area and sending plenty of help to the struggling people in country NSW.
All are invited to join Christmas lunch at St Peter Chanel Jubilee Hall, on Kingsland Road, Berala. Let us celebrate our God-given hope and joy. I wish all a happy Christmas.
Father THOMAS KURUNTHANAM,
St Peter Chanel and St Joseph Parish Berala.
