Message from the Provincial Superior
I wish everyone Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year 2016!
Some years ago, during a trip to the Holy Land, one Mr. James Martin bought a nativity set. It consisted of all the nativity figures: Jesus, Mary, Joseph, the shepherds etc. When Martin arrived at the Tel Aviv Airport for his return trip to the United States, security was extremely tight. The customs officers checked and x-rayed each figure, even the baby Jesus.
“We can’t take any chances” the officer apologized to Mr. Martin. We have to be sure that there is nothing explosive in this set. Afterwards Martin thought to himself, if the officer only knew that crib set contains the most explosive power in the world. The explosive power Martin was talking about is infinitely greater than the combined nuclear power of the United States and other nuclear states. And what is this power? Is it not the infinite power of God, that created the world in the flicker of an eyelash and is capable of destroying it with the snap of a finger?
The uniqueness of the power of Jesus is dramatized by the way He came into the world. It has the multiple dimensions of being the “Good News”, and it gives joy and peace to all. What is the “Good News” and joy and peace here? He was born in utter poverty and destitution, yet in obedience to God’s will that he shall establish God’s kingdom on earth. He is totally dependent on others for every need and is completely vulnerable. God chooses to come to us as a helpless infant and that too born in the humblest of all circumstances. God did this because He loves us and He wants to share himself with us. He does not want merely to exist alongside us but wants to be a part of everything that we are. Hence on this day God became one of us, to love each one of us intimately, passionately and without any limit.
Christmas is a feast of joy, love and peace. It is a feast of joy to celebrate the greatest moment in history. On this day we meet each other and greet each other with the festal wishes, exchange cards and sweets. We share with each other this happy moment in such a manner that even enemies speak to each other and those who are at war will declare it a day of truce. St. John tells us that to all those who received Him and believed in His name, He gave the power to be the children of God. He will uphold justice and righteousness forever. This light has come in the lives of people; for the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. Hence the Angels could joyfully announce to all “Glory to God in the highest and peace to those of good will.”
He was born in Bethlehem, in a manger or a cave because there was no room for Joseph and Mary in the inn. The Creator of the universe could not find a place for His own son on earth. The warmth he obtained was from the animals; his visitors were the shepherds, the illiterate, the reject of the society whom everyone looked at with scant respect. Later it was the foreigners – pagans- who came to visit Him and offer him the gifts fit for a king and a priest. The angels become the messengers. There was no grandeur, no pomp or salute of guns to announce the arrival of a king. Yet the whole atmosphere is suffused with joy, the joy of the angels and of the shepherds, as they hasten to Bethlehem to find the new-born child.
Like the shepherds who went with haste and shared the good news, we as Redemptorists are also called to go with haste and share the good news. As the Holy Father Francis has announced the Year of Mercy, we are challenged to be the Good News and source of Joy to all.
Wishing every one once again a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Joy Poonoly, C.Ss.R.
Provincial Superior
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