Christmas : The birth of Jesus Christ

Mithun Dey *

Evening of Christmas at Imphal area on December 24 2014 :: Pix - Bond Armando

Festivals and celebrations are destined to introduce hope and new life in struggling mankind. But, in the light of truth, there are many of us who have experienced exceptional pain and sorrow over the loss of our kith and kin, near and dear ones feel incapable of participating in the mainstream festival.

As we celebrate the traditional anniversary of the birth of Christ on December 25, we commemorate the love of God for man. The most famous verse in The Bible. John 3:16 as "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have eternal life."

Christmas is not merely about ecstasy; it is also about all anguish pain and sadness. Jesus Christ was born in a stable that sheltered animals normally. The Bible quoted, "There was no room at the inn."

As said by The Bible in the sixteenth verse of Mathew 1:16, "King Herod, worried and insecure after he was asked about the birth of the child, massacred all male children aged two and under in his land." The holy family of The Saint Joseph, The Virgin Mary and the child Jesus had to flee to Egypt to avoid Herod's soldiers.

Jesus grew in wisdom and stature and in favour with God and all the people. Still, in the last part, He was discarded and crucified. A recommended way of celebrating gala events is to put out to the marginalised and underprivileged, the exiles whether economic, social, or political. Since, there is in every human heart a poignant place that simply God can feel and heal. Christmas is a festival of love, peace and joy.

It is the mystery of God becoming man, which is the core of the Christian faith. Even so, this particular season of spiritual gratification has over the years been overtaken by superficial celebration, be it with fancy greeting cards, decorations, gifts, decking up, feasting, in a phrase an occasion for the rich and fashionable.

Free offers, posters, ads and banners have almost blanked out its spirit. And many, who might miss the asterisk of the conditions that pertain, can easily end in awful disappointment. And the reason is that the core values of the celebration are still on offer, free, and without any condition. If only we are willing to give it a chance.

Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, is now a city snowed under with its people estranged, the economy suffocating, and many who believe such desolation could hasten the second coming of Christ. However, Christians who have lived there for centuries have never been vetoed from praying at the historical site of Christ's birth. The Wailing Wall in Jerusalem does not separate Palestinians from the Jews.

Though, it's the Israeli policies that are separating the Palestinians. Many Christians continue to move abroad from Bethlehem because of the fear of Israeli military incursions, which is aggravated by the vast economic wreckage from the Israeli closure imposed upon the city.

It is a matter of utter disgrace that many in the Christian Right believe that unqualified support for Israel would make haste the return of Christ. Never mind if people are pressed on every side by troubles and die to feel this prophecy.

Christmas carols depict the event and several traditions related to the festivity, through images on each of the 52 cards. The set is printed in Belgium for the Legacy Toy and Game Company in the UK. Lapland Heroes is one more great pack that explains the fable of the Santa Claus' family. It has pictures of the dynamic elves, Santa Claus' truthful reindeer and even his wife.

Conceivably the most stunning is the Jesus Deck, a collection of 54 remarkable paintings depicting the persons, places and events in the life of Jesus Christ, rendered by artist, William Atkins.

Each of the four suits depicts a unique aspect of the life of Jesus Christ as told by the four Gospel writers — Luke (birth and childhood), Matthew (teachings), Mark (passion and death) and John (resurrection).

Each card wonderfully demonstrates in depiction and verse a major episode in the life of Jesus Christ.