CHRISTMAS: FEAST OF FAMILY Christmas is a feast of the family: Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. We all are from a family. We all belong to a family. The family is the most important nucleus of our neighbourhood, community, society, church,…
Immanuel: God with us is the most beautiful and comforting theme of the Advent and Christmas seasons. The intervention of God in human history through Christ Jesus, after so many seasons of sins and failure, was a life-changing moment. Our lives, existence and history were changed forever. Indeed, it was a moment of encounter when God redirected and reformulated everything about us, our relationship with Him and with one another.
We are invited to hope and joy at this season of Advent and Christmas. Traditionally, the third Sunday of Advent is called “Gaudete” Sunday. The day takes its common name from the Latin word “Gaudete” (“Rejoice”). The first word of the entrance antiphon of this day’s Mass: “Gaudete in Domino Semper…” which means “rejoice in the Lord always”.
There is no doubt that Christmas is a festive celebration of peace on earth to men and women of goodwill. This is the most beautiful declaration of the angels to the humble shepherds on the night of Christmas. When heaven and the earth were united at the birth of the Saviour and the Prince of Peace. The angels sang beautifully to the whole wide world: Glory to God on High and peace on earth to men (women) of goodwill.
Christ is Christmas! Christmas is one of the most celebrated feasts of Christendom and indeed in the whole wide world. It is a feast the changes the human history forever. A feast and a celebration of Jesus Christ at the centre of it.
Christmas is a feast of God´s love for falling humanity and his abundant grace to raise us up. It is a feast of restoration of falling humanity through Christ Jesus.
There is a concept of “homecoming” or “coming home” with regard to Christmas. It is a homecoming celebration of the Son of God, our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ