Christmas Talk

AN INCREDIBLE LOVE

When I was given an opportunity to deliver a sermonette in preparation for Christmas, one of themes that came to my mind very powerfully was the theme of “Love.” I could not think of Christmas without thinking of love. I attempted to write this sermonette of several other exciting themes; however, I could not get rid of the theme of love. Dear friends, I believe Christmas is nothing but a celebration of the love of God for the humankind. It is an event that recalls to our minds how God loved humankind from the beginning of human’s existence and how he continues to love us.

            Before I begin to speak of love let me elucidate what I understand by love. For me, “To Love is to wish the best and do the best for the other even if I have to make greatest of sacrifices; even if I have to give up my life.” We read in the gospel of St. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.” God indeed loved us and loved us “madly.” His love for humankind was nothing but a “crazy love;” an incredible love. We see what happens when a boy falls in love with a girl: He does crazy things, he literally becomes mad. He does things that are unreasonable and incomprehensible. I believe you understand what I mean by madness of a lover; for all of you surely have fallen in love with someone or the other and experienced craziness in some way; if not with a girl at least with God. Let me recall to you some of the crazy things that God did for love of humankind:

He was born out of wedlock, born in a stable in a strange land, refused accommodation by many, chased after to be killed moments after his birth, experienced exodus since childhood, grew up as a carpenter and went on to become a wandering preacher, was accused and awarded the sentence that was given only to criminals; in fact he was crucified between two thieves. After his death he was buried in a tomb that was not his own. During his ministry of preaching and healing, the Jewish religious leaders accused him of being an illegitimate son; a bastard. When he began preaching and healing, people said, “What good can come from Nazareth?”…  “Is he not the son of a carpenter?” (Jn. 6:42) He was also accused of being a drunkard and a glutton. (Lk. 7: 34) He was accused of entertaining sinners. (Lk. 7:39) Even at his last breath his identity was challenged when the thief who was crucified beside him mocked at him, “if you are the son of God come down from the cross…”

When I think of God who endured all these humiliations for the love of his beloved (humankind) I can describe his love in no better words than “crazy.” He did everything because he loved humankind but what he got in return was humiliation, crucifixion and death. Yet he bore all these because he loved humankind; because he was madly in love with men.

We read in the gospel of St. John 1:14 “And the word became flesh and lived among us…” Our God has not remained remote and unapproachable; he has come to us in person. He did not just write us a letter. He did not just send us a representative. He did not just speak his laws from a mountain. He came to us as one of us. The Infinite became an infant. The Eternal One became a weak one. The Bible describes the miracle of what Christ has done when it says: “Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:6-8).

No one could outdo what God has done. No one could give a greater gift than God has already given. His love for us is indeed irrepayable. However, the best way of being grateful to God for all he has done for us could be by imitating him. By making an effort to be like him more and more and our vocation is a little way of responding to the crazy love of God in a crazy manner. Let us strive to be better religious this Christmas. This could be our little gift to our God who has loved us much.

1.      Let us this Christmas, remember the great love that God had for each and every one of us.  By remembering His life, His teachings, His miracles, His prophesies, His death and His resurrection.

2.      By reaching out to others with love and concern; by reaching out to the hungry, the sick, and the lonely. By loving like him, who loved lost sinners.

3.      By forgiving those who sin against us and not being judgmental.

These I believe will make our Christmas celebrations more meaningful.