Omicron Christmas
Christmas Reflection
Scripture:
Isaiah 52:7-10,
Hebrews 1:1-6,
John 1:1-18.
Dear sisters and brothers,
We are in Omicron period of the deadly pandemic during the time of Christmas 2021.
And we have Jesus the Word, the Light of the Human Race.
Jesus the Word, the Light Shines in the Darkness.
Jesus Christ was not an ordinary human person.
Jesus Christ is the Second Person from the beginning of creation of the world and he is our hope.
Saint John writes:
“In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning.
Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made.
In him was life,
and that life was the light of all mankind.
The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:1-5).
What are some of the shining behaviours and attitudes that the Word, Jesus Christ becomes the Light of all humankind?
In addition, what can we learn from our Light and the Word, Jesus Christ for our lives during this omicron Christmas?
(En)-lightened (by Christ) people are rare to spot in the world and on this earth.
There is a huge difference between an ordinary person and an enlightened person.
An ordinary person can also be enlightened but an enlightened person is not necessarily an ordinary.
It applies to every person on this earth.
Therefore, these below qualities, behaviours and attitudes of Jesus Christ, make us enlightened persons to live the Christian life more meaningfully and radically in an ordinary way:
1. Christ is kind and generous:
Jesus Christ is kind and generous.
Moreover, Jesus Christ is selfless and care about the wellbeing of others as his Abba Father.
Saint John, the gospel writer, and the evangelist puts forth in the Gospel of John, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
God was so kind that He gave his only Son, Jesus Christ for our eternal life.
In other words, God was so kind on us and generous in giving His Son, Jesus Christ for our eternal life.
In addition, God was so selfless and cared about human salvation.
How?
He sacrificed His only Son Jesus Christ on the cross for our salvation.
As Saint Paul in his letter to Romans writes, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).
Am I kind with my fellow human beings, with my family members, with my fellow church members, and with my work companions having experienced Jesus in the Manger?
Am I generous with my material blessings to give a new life to those who do not afford to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ as the pandemic pushed them to poverty and loosing of jobs?
2. Christ is very humble:
Humble people are not showy.
Jesus Christ is humble.
Saint Paul in his letter to Philippians: “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8)
Being God and becoming human, he humbled himself.
Jesus Christ is not showy.
The gospel of John says:
“When he had finished washing their feet,
he put on his clothes and returned to his place.
“Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them.
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am.
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,
you also should wash one another’s feet.
I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master,
nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.” (John 13:12-17)
Jesus Christ humbles himself and washes his disciples’ feet to teach them the value of service in humility in their lives.
Humble people are always available to lend a hand wherever they can.
Jesus Christ reaches out to everyone.
We read in the gospel of Matthew:
“When Jesus came into Peter’s house,
he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever.
He touched her hand and the fever left her,
and she got up and began to wait on him.” (Matthew 8:14-15)
Jesus Christ reaches out in healing.
Again, we read in the gospel of Matthew:
“When he saw the wind, he was afraid and,
beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.
“You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down.” (Matthew 14:30-32)
Jesus Christ reaches out when we are in trouble.
Do I reach out to my neighbours in the name of Christ, as his disciple, in order to give new hope as we face the new corona variant omicron?
3. Christ is intelligent:
Intelligent people are mission oriented, and they do their works in a committed way.
Jesus Christ was wise and intelligent.
Saint Luke, physician by profession writes, “And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.” (Luke 2:40)
“After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” (Luke 2:46-47)
Listening and asking questions are two vital ways to get knowledge.
Jesus Christ did.
And we are called to do the same in our lives in order to gain the knowledge about God the Father, and God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit…listening to the Word and questioning our doubts and our weaknesses.
We live through the pandemic.
People question our spiritual activities.
Unless and until we have personal knowledge of Jesus in our lives, we cannot answer their questions.
Christmas answers the questions people ask us.
The message of Christmas is: Our Lord Jesus Christ comes to every home and every heart as human, to give knowledge of faith and wisdom of God.
We get intellect and knowledge from this incarnate Word to answer as the Gospel of Saint Matthew says:
“For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” (Matthew 10-20)
Through this deadly pandemic, God has been speaking to us.
Let us speak God’s love loud and clear as we experience during this Christmas through our lives and through various social media.
4. Christ is peacemaker:
Jesus Christ is peaceful at all times.
Jesus Christ was peaceful when they were in the boat. (Luke 8:22-25)
Let us explore the text here.
The disciples were not weekend boaters for entertainment.
Most of these men were fishermen.
They experienced many storms in their years of fishing.
However, this was different from the storm that they experienced.
The fear gripped them.
The waves raged them.
They lost their peace.
They are in confusion.
They had no control over their circumstances.
Their lives were in danger.
Here is the Man, who sleeps peacefully amidst all these.
What made this possible for Jesus Christ?
It was possible for Jesus Christ because of his firm faith in his Abba Father.
Do we have that kind of faith in our lives?
Jesus Raises a Dead Girl and Heals a Sick Woman (Mark 5:21-43).
Jesus said: “Don’t be afraid; just believe.” (Mark 5:36)
Father forgive them…it was a word from a peaceful man who was dying on the cross. (Luke 23:34)
“Again, Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21)
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace, bearing good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion, “Your God is King!”” (Isaiah 52:7)
We went through pains, difficulties, suffering, financial crisis, job loss and so on and so forth during this pandemic.
Finally, we have experienced the saving power of Christ in our lives.
He brought us peace in our lives.
We may not get what we have lost.
All the same, we are sure that God is in control of us.
Let us pray during this Christmas that all people may experience peace, joy and happiness in and through us.
5. Christ is full of love:
Christ just loves others whether they are black or white, tall or short, fat or slim, men or women and so on.
For example: Zacchaeus the Tax Collector (Luke 19:1-10).
“He wanted to see who Jesus was,
but because he was short he could not see over the crowd.
So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him,
since Jesus was coming that way.
When Jesus reached the spot,
he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately.
I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19:3-5)
“When the Pharisees saw this, they asked His disciples, “Why does your Teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.” (Matthew 9:11-12)
His love was unconditional.
His love was immeasurable.
Finally, Jesus Christ opened his arms with love on the cross and sacrificed his life for us out of his love.
On this Christmas day, may the Word, the Light, dawn upon each one of us as John beautifully says:
“From his fullness we have all received,
grace in place of grace
because while the law was given through Moses,
grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
No one has ever seen God.
The only Son, God, who is at the Father’s side,
has revealed him.” (John 1:16-18)
Are you going to be a Christ, full of love during this Omicron Christmas spreading hope, faith, peace, joy, happiness, peace and love?
I conclude by saying…Alleluia, alleluia… Forever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
May the Heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all. Amen…
Wishing you ALL A hopeful, peaceful, joyful, love filled Christmas…
