City Celebrates XMas

Braving the chilly weather, Christians in the twin cities celebrated Christmas by attending midnight Mass in their parish churches. St Mary’s Basillica in Secunderabad was at its best. People thronged in hundreds to get a glimpse of the birth of Jesus and greeted each other. Christmas is being celebrated with much pomp, fun and devotion.

The celebrations this year was accompanied by distributing cakes, chocolates, sweets, lighting candles, decorating beautiful Christmas trees and by exchanging gifts to the near and dear ones. On Christmas eve, not only Christians but people from other religions also visit churches to participate in the celebrations. From homes to offices and from markets to malls, Christmas decorations cheered the mood of the people.

Pope Francis delivered a Christmas message calling on the faithful, to serve the less fortunate around the world. “Not to place ourselves above others, but rather lower ourselves, place ourselves at the service of the poor; make ourselves small and poor with them. Whoever has nourished, welcomed, visited, loved one of the least and poorest of men, will have done this to the Son of God. On the contrary, whoever has rejected, forgotten, ignored one of the least and poorest of men, will have done this to God himself. Let us act that our brothers and sisters never feel alone.

Our presence in solidarity by their side should be expressed not only through words, but also through the eloquence of deeds, that God is close to everyone.” Thumma Bala, Archbishop of Hyderabad too conveyed his Christmas message on the eve of Christmas. In his message, he said, “Christmas message is to convey to the world that God became man in order make man divine and sons and daughters of one God, almighty father Christ! His incarnation in the human history, therefore a message of harmony and peace, is to be conveyed in order to carry out the salvific mission of Christ. We also need to get incarnated into the lives of the people wherever we are, whatever we do. Unless and until, we get incarnated into the lives of the people, the salvific message may not be able to conveyed and also received by the people themselves!” Fr Y Balashowry, Chief Parish Priest of St Mary’s Basilica, Secunderabad’s said “Christmas, the birthday of Lord Jesus Christ. It brings exuberant joy to the world. Jesus, who came down to earth to live among us brings this joy and happiness.

The birth of Jesus unveils the mystery of God’s love for each one of us. God’s own son, Jesus, has come to visit us with all his gifts, especially the greatest gift, his own self. The birth of Jesus reassures us that God is with us, now and always. His birthday is also our birthday because we become children of God in the Son of God. To all those who receive Him and believes in his name, He gives power to become the children of God (Jn 1: 12). This is the greatest joy. Nothing greater ever happened. He is ‘Emmanuel’, which means ‘God is with us’. St. Augustine says, “God has become man so the man might become God.”

The coming of Lord Jesus into this world calls us to put on divine life. He came to teach us divine things, love, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, almsgiving etc. He came that we may have life eternal and have it abundantly (Jn 10:10). Jesus Christ came into the world as the dawn on our darkness, so that those who believe in Him and receive him into their life as their savior are in the light. His presence within and among us enables us to step beyond our limited selves again and again and to bring true love to everyone whose lives we touch at this Christmas. Let us rejoice at the birth of Christ our savior, gladly welcome him into our hearts and share in his love peace and joy.”

Christmas message is to convey to the world that the god became man in order make man divine and sons and daughters of one god, almighty father. Christ! His incarnation in the human history therefore, is a message of harmony and peace to be conveyed in order to carry out the salvific mission of Christ. We also need to get incarnated into the lives of the people wherever we are, whatever we do. Unless and until, we get incarnated into the lives of the people, the salvific message may not be able to conveyed and also received by the people themselves!