Glory to the New-born King...........

Christmas, and religion as a whole, have their beauty entwined in the different meanings that they bear for each individual. To those who have lost their near and dear in the several instances of violence over the past year, it is a day to help kick-start their healing process, that the wounds of the past no longer cloud their futures. To wide-eyed children, the pinnacle of innocence, it is just another annual celebration in a country whose yearly calendar is littered with them. Then there are those like me, who, staying away from home, use this time to catch up with friends and family alike, to cuddle up in the warm blanket of familiarity before returning to a still-foreign city. To some, the gifts and material value of the holiday bear more significance, while for others, the spirit of the occasion remains supreme in their hearts.


I read a wonderful article in the editorial section of the Hindu today, which forms part of the inspiration behind this post. The other inspirations include my own experiences as well as talks with Joel, a fellow hosteler with whom I tend to spend many hours discussing matters theological in nature. Christmas, to any Christian, is the celebration of the noblest sacrifice : the act of a father sacrificing the life of his only begotten son, to help reform and bring back to the fold, his beloved sheep who had strayed away from his flock. According to my faith, had this sacrifice not been made, the fate of you and I in the after-life would have been sealed long before either one of us could prove his worth to the Creator. "He sent me Christ, because he loved me before my eyes could see" : this, in the most concise manner, conveys the emotions that every Christian feels on this auspicious day. To allow a world of sinners to seek redemption, God sent his son Jesus, the very personification of a true child of God, in human form, that others may listen to him, see him, touch him, and hence, yearn to be like him, so that they, as He, could be assured of their place in the new Jerusalem. Yes, you can point out certain points where the Bible contradicts known science, but that is the case with every Holy Book. Whether you choose to accept it at face-value or argue with it until the day of reckoning arrives is your own choice, but for me, this much can never be questioned, because Christ was not the figment of anyone's imagination. His life was documented by thousands of individuals who could yield no possible gain from spreading lies. The propagation of the word of God was hindered in different parts of the world by different kings, and those who dared to be a part of it were cruelly prosecuted, yet the religion survives and prospers today because the word of God cannot be suppressed.

Though at times, the significance of the holiday may appear to be diluted by the growth of its commercial side, it is still as much relevant now as it was 2008 years ago. Regardless of one's faith, being a historical character, it cannot be argued that Christ was not only a Messiah for followers of the Christian faith, but also a role model for every human being on this Earth. During his short lifetime, he communicated the need for every individual to have his own personal connection with the Almighty. He spoke out against the Jewish clergy of the time, which, he believed, had corrupted the Abrahamic faith. He attacked the traders who used the House of God as a place of business. Sadly, a majority of our places of worship today seek to gain just as much financial revenue from their flock as the spiritual guidance they provide. Our faith in God should never depend on the teachings of bishops, mullahs, and pujaris, for very few truly understand and speak the word of God as he intends it. He was tempted by the same Satanic tendencies and urges which lead so many of us humans astray, yet his unshakeable faith in the Father in Heaven enabled him to rise above and rebuke them.

To leave the fate of such a loving, dutiful son in the hands of a swarm of sinners blinded by the temptations of Satan would seem unthinkable to us, yet God chose to make that sacrifice. His forgiveness and mercy knows no bounds. If we are to be worthy of his Love inspite of our several flaws, then the life of Jesus Christ, for all mankind, should be the measuring stick for our own journeys through life.

Christmas is an occasion to forget our worldly desires and ambitions and the headaches which accompany the task of achieving them. It is an occasion to celebrate our very own humanity, to celebrate the inner goodness in us which is otherwise overshadowed by our glaring flaws. It is a time to bestow upon all of humankind pure, naked love, comparable to that which the Messiah held in his heart for us the day he laid down his life on the cross! Through this incredible journey , we learnt how to live!

To one and all who may come across this blog, my heartfelt apologies that this post appears on this space so late on the night of the 25th of December. Having arrived home late from a trip to Kozhencherry, there could've been no other time! I hope you had a joyous Christmas, and wish that the coming year heralds even more memories to cherish than the one that will soon pass us by! May God bless us all!

" Hark! the herald angels sing

Glory to the new-born King!

Peace on earth and mercy mild,

God and sinners reconciled!

Joyful, all ye nations, rise,

Join the triumph of the skies;

With the angelic host proclaim

Christ is born in Bethlehem!

Hark! the herald angels sing

Glory to the new-born King! "