Just a bit more than
three months back, the world went through the longest celebration on Earth,
Christmas. Every year witnesses this; from the beginning of December to the
end, lights and sounds everywhere announcing Christmas season. Heavy
shopping and parties, people falling into the traps set by industrialists,
buying everything on Earth as if there is never a tomorrow. Crowded malls and
eat-outs with huge Santas welcoming you! All social networks filled with wishes
and quotes and pictures of any kind to represent Christmas season!
What
was that all about? I wonder if anyone even understood what Christmas is!
Christmas is the day on which Jesus Christ was born as a Saviour for all
mankind. And Santa is a person who shows the importance of giving, which Christ
taught the people; to give without your left hand knowing what your right hand
has done. Christ was born in a midnight in a manger forlorn, in Bethlehem.
Santa is said to come through the chimney, to keep gifts for the kids, in the
late hours of night. These days Jesus is left to the midnight mass in Churches
and Santa made to stand for a month at the doors of shops!
That
little baby who was born on Christmas was nailed to the cross at the age of 33,
on Good Friday. He took up that death as the will of His Father in Heaven and
died for the sins of mankind, so that we can enjoy salvation. Today is Easter.
The stone kept at the entrance of the tomb was rolled away, leaving it empty.
To the few ladies who went to visit His tomb, He appeared in His human form; He
resurrected. He defeated death and lived again till He ascended into Heaven
after transfiguration.
I
don't see anything special today, except a few calls and sms. Churches will be
full and Christians will end their 40 days' fast and as usual have Easter
parties with friends! Each celebration adding wine and glamour to the lives of
people making them popular. In the Catholic Church, we proclaim the mystery of
Faith "Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again". We
leave the Church, leaving behind Jesus, never a topic to discus during
Christmas or Easter parties.
I
remember the words of Swami Vivekananda who was an admirer of Jesus Christ
saying that he would rather fast on Christmas to celebrate the birth of Christ.
Beyond religions and faiths there stands true wisdom; to acknowledge the Truth,
to respect Births and Lives, to honour Sacrifices and to nurture and value
the purpose of Human birth.
May
the meaning of Easter touch our hearts and redeem us from the ways of sins and
keep our body pure to make it the Temple of God.
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