Christmas - Spiritual significance for human emancipation

Prof (Dr) Jayadeba Sahoo *

Christmas is one of the biggest festive occasions in the world. The word Christmas comes from the old English words Cristes moesse. It means ‘festival of Christ’. Cristes (from the Greek Christos) means “anointed one” and moesse (from Latin missa) stands for the celebration.

Thus Christmas points to a time when people are happy knowing about God’s appointed one (or conduit). God’s knowledge is revealed through His conduit who liberates people from their problems. Christmas celebration is meaningful only when its essence (the purpose of the birth of Christ) is remembered.

Christmas, Christian festival celebrating the birth of Jesus. The English term Christmas (mass on Christ’s day) is of fairly recent origin. The earlier term Yule may have derived from the Germanic jol or the Anglo-Saxon geol, which referred to the feast of the winter solstice. The corresponding terms in other languages—Navidad in Spanish, Natale in Italian, Noël in French—all probably denote nativity.

The German word Weihnachten denotes “hallowed night.” Since the early 20th century, Christmas has also been a secular family holiday, observed by Christians and non-Christians alike, devoid of Christian elements, and marked by an increasingly elaborate exchange of gifts. In this secular Christmas celebration, a mythical figure named Santa Claus plays the pivotal role.

The true purpose of Christ’s birth

Christ shed light on the most important subjects such as God, soul, their relationship, and the secret of happiness. He taught God is the Supreme Spirit, our Father, residing in Heaven, and is the source of all good qualities (John 4:24; Mathew 6:9; Mark 10:18). Jesus was a Jew and his listeners too were mostly Jews.

They were familiar with their scriptures (Old Testament) which say that there is an “eternal spirit” that resides in each one’s physical body (Ecclesiastes 3:11; 12:7). Without elaboration, Christ declared “Unless a seed falls into earth and dies, it cannot produce any grains” (John 12:24).

Attribute of God

Jesus declared benevolence (Shivam in Sanskrit) as the primary and exclusive attribute of our Father. He is the source of all good gifts (Mark 10:18; Mathew 7:11). Brahma Kumaris call God ‘Shiva’ which means the benevolent one.

Practicing Soul Consciousness

Jesus knew he was a soul. He knew he existed in heaven, and would return to heaven after earthly life (John 5:24; 6:38, 62; 8:42; 13:1; 17:5). He taught that our Heavenly Father is a spirit, and is incorporeal. He implied that all His children are spiritual beings acting in physical bodies. His children are an exact representation of His very being (John 4:24; 6:63 Compare Ecclesiastes 12:7 and Mark 12:26-27).

He said that the purpose of life and the secret of happiness is to become like our Heavenly Father and manifest His qualities in our daily lives. It’s also to have good wishes for all, friends and foes alike (Mathew 5:44-48).

The quality of our actions determines what happenings get attracted towards us (Mathew 23:12; Luke 6:38). Those who lead an elevated life here will inherit Golden Aged life. They will enjoy everything 100 times more than what they sacrificed in this part of the world (Mathew 12:32; Mathew 19:27-29).

No wonder his disciples often asked him ‘When are you going to restore the Kingdom?’ (Acts 1:6; Luke 19:11). This reflects the belief of people in the East-India. They believe that God will reestablish righteousness when unrighteousness reaches its climax (Bhagavat-Gita 4:7).

Destruction and Coming of Paradise

This Dark Age will be replaced by Golden Age in a process called “renewal” (Mathew 12:32; Mathew 19:28). Only those who are leading a golden aged life now will inherit Golden Age (Mathew 13:24-30). As time passes, Golden Age will steadily decline in quality and old habits will resurface (Mathew 13:33, 52) and the cycle will repeat. Hence there is nothing new happening on earth (Ecclesiastes 1:9, 10; 3:15).

He knew the world will come to its destruction with the stock-piles of deadly arms man has manufactured (Mathew 24:21; 26:52). He taught that people will be judged on the basis of two things: Whether they have loved Light that has come into the world or not (John 3:19-21), and whether they have manifested their basic nature of being humane (Mathew 25:31-46).

Brahma Kumaris often talk about the end of Kaliyuga (Iron Age) and the coming of Satyuga (Golden age). Jesus lived up to his name. Hebrew transliteration of Jesus is Jehoshua, which means “Jehovah is salvation.”

Jehovah means “I am that I am” (Exodus 3:14). Abraham who knew the meaning of this name had put the essence of it in a simple title as “the eternal” (`Olam, in Hebrew) in Genesis 21:33. This God Himself expanded later as: “I am the Alpha and the Omega … who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8). What better word can convey God’s name as ‘the eternal’.

Why is Christmas celebrated on 25th December?

The New Schaff-Herzog Encyclopaedia of Religious Knowledge explains “the date of the festival depended upon the Pagan Brumalia (December 25) following the Saturnalia (December 17-24), and celebrating the shortest day of the year and the ‘New Sun’. . . The Pagan Saturnalia and Brumalia were too deeply entrenched in popular custom to be set aside by Christian influence.”

Thus the very name Jesus was a reminder to the world: “Remember God, because He is your only Savior.” Anyone who knows studies the lifestyle of Brahma Kumaris will agree that they practice the teachings of Jesus. This similarity is not a coincidence. Basis of God’s children is always the same, it never changes (Mathew 5:44-48).

On this auspicious occasion of ‘Christmas’, take a moment for deep spiritual introspection and free yourselves from the bondage of greed, the lust for power and a slave of promiscuity and make God your eternal companion for true peace, happiness and prosperity.

Happy greetings on the auspicious festival of “Christmas” To All.

Wishing you a lifestyle which Jesus lived and Merry Christmas in advance!