Joy to the World
Christmas -2020
In his Parable of the Birds, Louis Cassels tells of a man who refuses to go with his family to the Midnight Mass because he cannot understand the incarnation. Left alone at home, he finds a flock of birds in his backyard. Caught in the storm, the little creatures are desperate for shelter. He tries to usher the birds into the barn by sprinkling breadcrumbs along the way. When this fails, he tries to show them in by walking around them, waving his arms I the air. But the birds still do not understand. Finally, he realizes the problem: the birds find him a strange and terrifying creature. They do not trust him. He murmurs, “If only I could be a bird for a moment, perhaps I could save them. “At that moment, he hears the church bells ring the good news of Christmas. He sinks to his knees, saying: “Now I see why God has to become one of us.”
Christmas is finally here. All four weeks of Advent we have been waiting and praying for the coming blessings of Christmas. And now Christmas is here. Today the angels are bringing us the good news of great joy for all the people, for to us is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord. This good news of great joy is for all the people of God. As people of God we have a claim to the joy and the peace that the birth of Christ brings to the world. But how do I personally enter into this "great joy" of Christmas?
Christmas rings out "joy to the world," yes, but how do I make this joy my own? This is an important question, for, even though God has declared joy to the whole world, there are still many among us who do not flow in this joy, many among us who do not know how to claim this joy and make it their own personally.
During this difficulty time, we are not in the real spirit of Christmas. Yet, the spirit of Christmas is not really about external appearances, but deep within the experience of the Joy that shepherds felt when they heard the birth of Christ.
Christ is born today in our context. He is there with the suffering with Covid-19, he is there working with the health workers. He is there with those farmers – fighting for their rights.
Let us be aware that God is with us. He has not deserted his creation. He has become just like us to give us salvation. This is the deepest joy of Christmas.
Wish you merry Christmas
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