CHRISTMAS AS ENCOUNTER
What is encounter? An unplanned or
unexpected meeting or a sudden or often violent clash. Why is Christmas an
encounter? Jesus
came to this world when the world was asleep. Indeed, he came to this world to
waken the world from sin and suffering and rise this world to hope. That
is why I call Christmas as encounter.
§ Encounter of Creator with His creation
It is a simple explanation to the
meaning of Christmas without much theology or other complications to understand
better even for the simple people. Why Creator must meet His creation? Why
creator must leave heaven and come to earth? Because of our sin we had lost a
beautiful heaven and came to the earth. It’s a small mistake but ruptured and
destroyed the plan of God. There is a vast gap between God and us. God expected that the human beings would come
back to Him and plead for His mercy. But we never and ever come back to God. Then,
He had chosen the people of Israel the least among all the nations. He sent
many judges, many kings, many prophets but no change. At last, He decided to
send His only Son Jesus to reconcile the humanity to God. In love He created
us, in justice He condemned us and in mercy He redeemed us.
§ Encounter
of Light with darkness
The people who walked in darkness have
seen a great light; for those living in a land of deep darkness, a light has
shined on them (Isaiah – 9: 2). This was to the people of Israel who were in
exile. God brought them back to the promised land.
The people living in darkness have seen
great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has
dawned (Matthew – 4: 16). This is to the shepherds who were keeping the sheep
in the field. Angel told them to go and see the child wrapped in clothes. This
is a symbolic expression. Darkness refers to sin and death and light refers to
salvation or liberation, darkness refers to human existence and light refers to
divine existence. Once light enters the world, darkness does not have place.
§ Encounter
of Divine with human
In the beginning was the word and the
word was with God and the word was God (John – 1: 1). Jesus is fully human and
fully divine. Jesus comes to share his divine nature with the entire humanity.
This is also to reflect that God is not in the heavens, but in the midst of the
people sharing in our trails, tribulations and entering our suffering and
death. Thus, He chose the least place and set an example for each one of us to
accept everything in our life as the plan of God.
Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and
hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a
plain. The portrayal of Isaiah is simply: rich and the poor dine together, wise
and the simple listen to one another, the old and the young play together, men
and the women walk and talk equally and the sinners and the saints pray
together.
DATE : BEGUN IN THEOLOGY & COMPLETED FOR DECEMBER 2020
PRAKAASH YAATHRA
Prakaash Yaathra is a celebration,
before the nativity of the Lord, of proclaiming that Christ is the Light of the
world. It was a long procession of the faithful walking through the forest with
candles for seven kilometres. It was togetherness of many denominations joining
as one family to walk hand in hand. Dance, of course, was the life of the
people here for every celebration. It was joy to the people of other faith when
the faithful sang songs of glory to our Saviour and played drums to the King of
the universe. The theme of Christmas goes on saying that Christ is the Light of
the nations. It is well expressed in the Gospel according to John: “In Him was
life and the life was the light of all people… (John – 1:4) The light shines in
the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it (John – 1:5) …The true light which
enlightens everyone coming into the world” (John - 1:9).
Resonances of Prakaash Yaathra can be
traced back to the life of Israel in the wilderness. The people of Israel were
walking through the wilderness day and night. Wilderness is a vast and wide
place which did not have any path or direction. Then, how to travel to the
promised land? The Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead
them the way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light; so that they
might travel by day and by night (Exodus – 13:21). The Pillar of Fire provided
the light to the people of Israel to travel in the night through the
wilderness. When the Pillar of Fire moved forward, the people of Israel would
pack up their camp and follow behind. When Pillar of Fire stopped, the people
of Israel would set up their camp. Pillar of Fire was one of the manifestations
of the presence of God of Israel. This way, the presence of God was always
visibly centre of the camp. This was to remind the Israelites that God was with
them.
John depicts his Gospel by the powerful symbols such as
darkness and light. Old Testament gives enough explanation of what darkness and
light symbolize. Darkness symbolises slavery according to the book of prophet
Isaiah. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; for those
living in a land of deep darkness, a light has shined on them (Isaiah – 9: 2). The
people of Israel were taken to the exile as slaves. There was no temple, no
priests, no worship, no prophet or no prince. They did not have any identity in the foreign
land. Here came prophet Isaiah proclaiming hope to the hopeless and life to the
lifeless. Yahweh intervened and brought the Israelites to the promised land
where they had everything in plenty. Yahweh led the Israelites from slavery to
liberation and from darkness to light. Once light entered the world, darkness did
not have place. Darkness refers to sin and death and light refers to salvation
and liberation in the Gospel according to Matthew. Darkness refers to human
existence and light refers to divine existence. The people living in darkness
have seen great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a
light has dawned (Matthew – 4: 16).
Four weeks of advent preparation was helpful to seek Jesus and make Him the centre of the celebration. Each week a candle was lit presenting a special theme pointing towards Christ the light of the nations. “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
DEACON VINAY SSS – ANDAMAN . . .WRITTEN FOR THE SSS INDIA ON 12/ JANUARY/ 2020
FOR NOTHING WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD (Luke 1:37)
Who created the world? Human or Divine?
Heaven and earth; Light and darkness?
Clouds of the sky; Stars of the heavens?
Day and night; Sun and moon?
Impossible for human and possible for God
Impossible human
and possible God
Is it possible for human to create
out of nothing?
Showers and rain; Breezes and winds?
Cold and heat; Mountains and hills?
Fountains and springs; Rivers
and seas?
Impossible for human and possible for
God
Impossible human
and possible God
How great is my Lord through all the
earth?
Manna in the desert; Water from the
rock
Pillar of cloud in the day to guide
Pillar of fire in the night to guard
Impossible for human and possible for
God
Impossible human
and possible God
Let the people ask ‘Who is your God?’
Casts down the mighty and lifts up
lowly
Fills the hungry and sends away the
rich
Barren have children and virgin
conceives
Impossible for human and possible for
God
Impossible human
and possible God
THIS IS WRITTEN ON 21 DECEMBER, 2018 FOR THE SSS INDIA
I FOLLOW HIM STILL . . .
This has been God’s way in Sacred Scripture that He calls the ordinary people for an ex-ordinary mission. A friend, who is a Catholic, calls his friend, who is Hindu, to play a hero role on the occasion of the Christmas celebrations. Inevitably, this Hindu friend is bound to learn the Sign of the Cross and Our Father as the part of play. As he practices, he is drawn towards Jesus. The play is over successfully and then begins his search for the true God. Finally, he found him in Jesus. This is how Jesus called me and made known his unconditional love to me.
God’s marvelous work began in me right from the beginning. My aunt interceded to Mother Mary at the shrine of Gunadala, Vijayawada, when I was still in my mother’s womb, that I may be blessed. Of the three children before me and the two after me (who died soon after the birth) it was only me that God saved to be His partner to proclaim His love to all. This is how God has made me something special in His sight.
There were many struggles that strengthened and formed me from the moment I joined the seminary too. It is a pleasure to share how Jesus had strengthened me as I hold his hand to walk with Him. The first incident is my English Year. It was a great struggle for me to learn English. It was difficult to make even one simple sentence. I was embarrassed all the times in the midst of my companions so I decided to leave the seminary because of this discomfort. After a deep reflection, I understood that I was running away from the Reality. It was at this moment that Jesus asked me this question; do you want to follow me still?
The second one is not just one incident, but a series of incidents one after another that came upon me in the same year. As I began my journey in the Novitiate, I said to my mother: I am going to begin my Novitiate. I will come wearing cassock and you must call me not by name, but address me as ‘Brother’. The only communication, after I enter into the Novitiate, is to write a letter once a month to my parents. One day I received news that my mother left this world. My dreams remained as dreams. There was no hope that I would continue my vocation, for my father, friends and people did not will to send me to the seminary. At this moment, Jesus asked me; do you want to follow me still? My father, when he is on the way for his daily work, met with an accident. In the hospital, there was no one apart from my sister and brother-in-law. Tears of my father have shaken my dreams to be a priest. I was not able to extend my hand neither financially nor being present near to him. At this moment, Jesus asked me: Do you want to follow me still? My sister came to my home for her second delivery. On the day of delivery, doctors decided for major operation for safety of mother and child. Money has become very important need which I did not have with me. At this moment, Jesus asked me; do you want to follow me still? My response is 'yes', I want to follow You still’. In all these moments, what Jesus said to me is; “All that is yours is mine and all that is mine is yours”.
My founder, St. Peter Julian Eymard, the Apostle of the Eucharist, has been my role model for me who asked Jesus “give me the joy of celebrating at least one Eucharist, then I shall die”. Jesus has intervened in every struggle that I encountered. Therefore, my heart rejoices to walk in the path of Jesus.
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