As we live in troubled times with hate, mutual distrust and fissiparous tendencies ruling the roost, this time of the year brings us some cheer when we celebrate the birth of Christ. Though saints are beyond the cycle of birth and death, let us turn our hearts and souls to the significance of the life and teachings of Christ. Christians believe, it is the day when God’s power descended on the earth in human form to give the firsthand experience of “the word” to humanity. The difference between Hinduism, Christianity and Islam is that while Hindus rever many gods in human forms, Christians have first “The Word” which later assumed human form in Christ while Islam does not believe in form, only “the word”. But all the religions are united in one thing: Salvation of human beings and universal love and brotherhood.

 Christmas is an occasion when we must give a thought to understand the meaning of “Christ”. Jesus Christ, in the Gospel, often called himself as the “Child of Man” and “Son of God”. He can be understood in this dual context. Being one with the Father, Christ embodied all virtues. He was an epitome of love, forgiveness and humility. He represented the full flowering of God’s love in the world. Indeed, if forgiveness can be defined as the perfume that flowers breathe when they are trampled upon, then he was a veritable garden of divine fragrance. His love encompassed all, and he embraced all. Humility was his adornment. It is love which opens our hearts to share in the sufferings and joys of others. And it is humility which inspires us to reach out to the lowly and the poor, the forsaken and the forgotten. 

It is not the magnitude of our acts of loving kindness that ultimately matters. It is the sincerity with which they are offered. As we celebrate Christmas, let us do so in a spirit as openhearted. If we but develop the eyes to see, we will find that every day is filled with opportunities to express love and compassion, and to perform acts of kindness which can bring joy to those around us. Every day is filled with opportunities to spread the fragrance of forgiveness and apply the balm of soothing words. So on this happy occasion, let us forget hate and love each other.