Christmas: Revelation of God's Mercy

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It is Christmas time..... Hope all of you are creeping slowly to the Christmas mood. This year His Holiness Pope Francis has specially mentioned the importance of "MERCY" by declaring a Jubilee Year. Christmas is the time we revisit revelation of  God's Mercy...... of course revisit the face of God's Love.....in the incarnation of Jesus His only Son....For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (Jn 3/16 a)......Yes God is so merciful to show his love to the entire humanity....that the the Good News proclaimed by the Angels on the silent Christmas night..."I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people.¹¹ Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord". (Lk. 2/10-11).. Yes the Good News is that "God has put his tent among the people". He has become Emmanuel.  Remembering the love and Mercy of God our father we too have to be Merciful. Mercy is a  virtue influencing one's will to have compassion for, and, if possible, to alleviate another's misfortune. Lord does not look the merit of the person...He sees him/her  in his or her own state and shower his grace with out considering his or her past, present or future..for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.(Lk  6/35). In the parable of Good Samaritan (Lk 10/25.....) Jesus projects the Samaritan who has shown compassion to alleviate the misfortune of  the badly wounded man lying on the roadside as truly merciful and he is the neighbor. In the act of incarnation the merciful God gives his only Son in flesh to be with his Creation in space and time to be a true neighbor to alleviate their misfortunes.

 Christmas is the time to revisit our own lives to understand how God has showered his love and peace over us all through out the years. This Understanding will help us to celebrate Christmas with a renewed heart.... strengthening our relationship with God and our brethren...and showing a face of Mercy to all in and around....This is the spirit of Christmas......I would like to remember  the plot of the novel Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens where he portrays the character of  of Ebenezer Scrooge a miser........which I have studied in my school days...... Now I am able to feel the spirit of the story in my heart ...I want you too to share my feeling by sharing a brief summary of the novel..

Ebenezer Scrooge, a miserly, cold-hearted creditor, continues his stingy, greedy ways on Christmas Eve. He rejects a Christmas dinner invitation, and all the good tidings of the holiday, from his jolly nephew, Fred; he yells at charity workers; and he overworks his employee, Bob Cratchit. At night, Scrooge's former partner Jacob Marley, dead for seven years, visits him in the form of a ghost. Marley's spirit has been wandering since he died as punishment for being consumed with business and not with people while alive. He has come to warn Scrooge and perhaps save him from the same fate. He tells him Three Spirits will come to him over the next three nights.

Scrooge falls asleep and wakes up to find the Ghost of Christmas Past, a small, elderly figure. The Ghost shows Scrooge scenes from the past that trace Scrooge's development from a young boy, lonely but with the potential for happiness, to a young man with the first traces of greed that would deny love in his life. Scrooge shows newfound emotion when revisiting these scenes, often crying from identification with his former neglected self.

Scrooge goes to sleep and is awakened by the Ghost of Christmas Present, a giant with a life span of one day. He shows Scrooge several current scenes of Christmas joy and charity, then shows him the Cratchit household. The Ghost informs Scrooge that unless the future is changed, the Cratchit's crippled and good-hearted young son, Tiny Tim, will die. He also shows Scrooge the party at Fred's house. Finally, a ragged boy and girl crawl out from the Ghost's robes. The Ghost calls them Ignorance and Want and warns Scrooge to beware of Ignorance.

The silent, black-clad Ghost of Christmas Yet To Come replaces the other ghost. He shows Scrooge several scenes of people discussing someone's death; no one seems pained by the death, and most are happy about it. Scrooge does not know, however, who the man is. He learns that Tiny Tim has died, but the Cratchits maintain their unity and love. Scrooge finally discovers that he is the one who has died and whose death has only pleased people. He expresses the hope that these scenes of the future can be changed, and vows to incorporate the lessons of the past, present, and future into his adoption of the Christmas spirit.

Scrooge wakes up in his bedroom and learns that the whole adventure took only one night, not threeit is Christmas Day. In addition to smiling and being friendly to everyone he sees, he sends a large turkey to the Cratchits, gives a sizable donation to the charity worker he previously insulted, and has a wonderful time at Fred's party. The next day he gives Cratchit a raise. Scrooge continues his kindly ways after Christmas, befriending everyone and becoming a second father to Tiny Tim, who does not die. He never sees the ghosts again, but he keeps the spirit of Christmas alive in his heart as well as anyone.

 (courtesy: http://www.gradesaver.com/a-christmas-carol/study-guide/summary)

Ebenezer Scrooge changes his attitude and lives the rest of his life with generosity, good cheer, and compassion toward the worse off. Truly, he's become all about the spirit of Christmas.

Let us reform ourselves in the light of Christmas celebration and become renewed persons doing works of Mercy

• To feed the hungry;
• To give drink to the thirsty;
• To clothe the naked;
• To harbour the harbourless;
• To visit the sick;
• To ransom the captive;
• To bury the dead.

The spiritual works of mercy are:

• To instruct the ignorant;
• To counsel the doubtful;
• To admonish sinners;
• To bear wrongs patiently;
• To forgive offences willingly;
• To comfort the afflicted;
• To pray for the living and the dead.

Wish you all a Merciful Christmas and the greeting of Jubilee year of Mercy. Let the babe of Bethlehem, be among your midst....... 

“How can I make your day better?”

“How can I make your day better?”

We hear a lot  about divorces, separation and broken relationships among married people these days. Reports about lack of faithfulness in marital relationships among the spouses are on the increase. Further modern concepts about personal freedom and financial independence have tempted life partners to make decisions based on selfish motives. This has affected the traditional value system associated with the marriage relationship where personal sufferings for the benefit of family is also important. Family being the cornerstone of Christian society care has to be taken to nurture the family bond.

Life partners are not perfect couples in all respects. There may be shortcomings in their personalities. In the early state of married life one will see only the positive shades of the partner's personality. However day by day partners are revealed. As years pass by it becomes difficult for many to adjust with their life partner. Life become miserable such that one will see only the negative side of his or her partner.Lack of patience among the couples make situations further worse. At times life partners may remark "I am fed up". Partners become cold in their relationships loosing all warmth and affection.

Renowned author of Christmas Box and the Michael Vey series (USA), Richard Paul Evans  in his blog 'How I saved my marriage' shares about the troubled days of his married life and how he has struggled to save his married life through self understanding and mutual respect. In one of his troubled days he experiences the loving provenience of God which enlightens him that  he cannot change his partner  but he can change himself. This brings a tremendous change in his attitude towards his partner. Everyday morning he began to ask his partner :"How can I make your day better?"Though initially his wife did not respond positively later she was moved by her partner's ingenuity and openness. Then onwards there occurs a marked change in their life...Read :   How I Saved My Marriage By: Richard Paul Evans

An anxious concern for the comfort and well-being of one's companion is very much important in one's married life. One cannot change his or her partner but he or she can change his or her attitude. This is can work miracles in ones relationship with his or her partner. A gentle remark "How can I help you to make your day better" with a genuine heart can solve all indifferences and hatred. It tends to accept one's partner with all the short comings and heals all the wounds with the touch of genuine love and care.