Asangba Tzüdir
“Every idiot who goes about with ‘Merry Christmas,’ on his lips, should be boiled with his own pudding!” - Ebenezer Scrooge
The season of joy and celebration is here again, to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The whole of Christendom is once again reminded of the miracle that took place in that stable in Bethlehem when the Virgin Mary gave birth to the Son of God with the purpose of redeeming the World. It all changed that one starry night, as God gave the World the ultimate gift of love: His Son Jesus, on a mission to save the world.
Decorations have filled the homes and streets in preparation for Christmas. Behold, the sights and sounds of Christmas fills us with a sense of joy. Celebrations have started to make festive the season. However, beyond decorations and festivity, in essence, Christmas is the revelation of God’s Love. Thus, the true meaning and celebration of Christmas can be fulfilled only when God’s Love is truly translated into act. God’s gift of Love unfolded when the son of God took human form and came to Earth with a mission to heal the sick, to restore sight for the sightless, to free the ‘bounded’ and to redeem the sins of the world and to give eternal life. Christmas, therefore is not simply the birth of baby Jesus but a celebration of the highest form of Love.
In Bethlehem, there was no room for Joseph and Mary and had only a stable on offer. The king was born in a stable. This is a great lesson on humility for the Nagas. As Christmas approaches, and in our preoccupied and busy life, the popular Hymn ‘Have you any room for thee’ seems to remind us whether we have the Love of God in us this Christmas. How do we translate the Love of God into meaningful acts as Jesus has shown to us? The city is now decorated and lighted but if we fail to celebrate the Love of God, then Christmas will be just another lighted festival or a meaningless X-Mas tale, where Christ is replaced by an unknown entity called ‘X.’ The true spirit and flavour of Christmas, thus, cannot come through Christmas decorations, Christmas father, Christmas presents, Christmas cake, Christmas feast, Christmas dress, Christmas concert, Christmas ‘drinks,’ but in translating the Love of God that will fulfil the essence and spirit of Christmas.
This Christmas, if you join the likes of King Herod to kill baby Jesus, then it is as good as Christmas being cancelled in your heart and in your home. How would one think about celebrating Christmas when there is no room for Jesus or when there is no room for Love or when you have already killed baby Jesus through acts that does not glorify the name of Jesus? These are thoughts worth reflecting.
Baby Jesus has a Gift for each and every one of us this Christmas…He says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble at heart, and I will find rest for your souls.” Let this Christmas be an opportunity to ask baby Jesus that we may be able to translate the Love of God and celebrate Christmas meaningfully in its fullness beyond the ‘flesh and the lips.’
(Dr. Asangba Tzüdir is Editor of Heritage Publishing House. He contributes a weekly guest editorial to Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
