Advent 2018, A prayer for true freedom and peace
Wednesday 12 December 2018
Dear Parishioners,
Christmas is the time we experience the divine love more closely in our hearts. During this season we celebrate Christ who was born in to this world to save us from sin and death. The four weeks of preparation during Advent helps us to reflect on the Love, Peace and Joy which Jesus brought into this world. The Advent wreath, Candles, Stars, greeting cards, illuminations, all these add to our spiritual joy.
Emmanuel "God with us" is the reason for our joy. How can we make our hearts a dwelling place for Jesus? Through sacrifices we make, the sharing of our resources with the less privileged, commitment and dedication. These things take us forward in the spiritual journey.
We find some people rejoiced at the birth of Jesus whereas some others were disturbed. The Shepherds along with Mary and Joseph and the kings, all of them rejoiced at the birth of Jesus because they were simple people full of love and sincerity of heart. Herod and all his people were disturbed at His birth because they thought this newborn babe would take away their power and position.
The readings from the book of Isaiah promises a great hope. The people who were walking in darkness would see a great light. At His birth angels sang the song “Glory to God in the highest and peace to His people on earth”. As the angels sang beautiful songs, praising God, we also unite our voices to sing and praise God for His gift of Jesus to each and everyone of us.
Blessed Virgin Mary submitted herself totally to the Divine Will of God and answered, "Here I am, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word." After all, nothing is impossible to Almighty God. The Blessed Virgin Mary, as a young Jewish girl, was very familiar with the Scriptures. She knew of all the great things that God had done for her people. How He freed them from slavery, how He divided the Red Sea, how He brought them to the Promised Land, etc.
In the midst of terrorism, corruption, and all the activities against the Divine, let us pray that the newborn Child will grant us true freedom and peace.
I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous 2019.
With every blessing Fr. Jose Joseph SAC