Family and friends crossing borders to come home or being unable to do so, are greater concerns than the coming of Santa this year.
Ironically, this pandemic has highlighted the joy of reunions and family celebrations more than ever before. It is the hungry who enjoy food better.
The deprived appreciate life better. The distance the dear ones were compelled to keep is ironically creating greater cravings for reunion. Covid-19 made me close my church doors. I have noticed that as the church doors remained closed, the aspiration of my people to come together grew stronger.
In a way the forced isolations and distancing are helping highlight the Christmas joy more powerfully this year. After all, Christmas is not so much about the anniversary of the birth of Jesus. It is, for Christians, about God coming again in the lives and hearts of you and me. This festive season brings the joy that God has become human so that humans can be like God. This is a celebration of God, who took human flesh, breaking into the life of humans.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem. In telling this, the Bible is not furnishing a piece of useless geographical information. Bethlehem etymologically means ‘House of Bread’.
The Christmas story is about Jesus coming to the world at the ‘House of Bread’ for humans. The Bible reveals that Jesus who was born in the ‘House of Bread’, also fed multitudes of hungry people with bread and nourished them. Therefore celebrating the spirit of Christmas, we are keen to nourish the hungry with food and provisions. Christmas hampers as well as Christmas Luncheon for anyone who wants to join at Berala are some of the manifestations of God’s life in us. I invite all to come along and celebrate the fellowship of godliness in humanity. Join me to highlight the spirit of Christmas.
Have a happy and wholesome Christmas.
Fr Thomas Kurunthanam
St Peter Chanel and St Joseph, Berala.
