Christmas wishes from Mission India
Dear friends and benefactors,
The profound mystery of Christmas has been studied for two thousand years. Many human attempts have been made to better understand the mystery of Christ’s Nativity. The contemplation of Christmas continues even today and is often expressed with poetic words and images and songs. But these only scratch the surface of God’s infinite Gift of Himself to us.
Few persons in the world haven spoken as eloquently about the Nativity as St. Augustine. One of the greatest theologians and doctors of the Church, he was also the Bishop of the diocese of Hippo in northern Africa. Every Christmas, he would preach the homily at Midnight Mass and the Masses on Christmas Day. It was one of his favorite Feasts of the year.
Fortunately, some of his people wrote down what he said, so we can profit by his words:
Man’s Maker was made Man in order that the Bread of Life might be made hungry, that the Fountain thirst,
the Light sleep,
the Way be made tired from the journey,
the Truth might be accused by false witnesses,
the Judge of the living and dead be judged by a mortal judge,
Justice might be sentenced by the unjust,
the Teacher be beaten with whips,
the Vine be crowned with thorns,
the Foundation be suspended on wood,
the Strength be made weak,
the Healer be wounded,
and that Life might die.
Both Kings and Shepherds were called to the Crib in Bethlehem. This tells us one important thing: in the eyes of God, we are all equal. God does not choose favorites based on who is important in the eyes of the world. He sees the interior value of each person and desires all, rich or poor, powerful or weak, to come to Him in adoration and love.
Christmas is a time filled with gifts and gatherings, food, and celebration. But more than anything of these things, Christmas is a time for us to step back and experience the meaning of this sacred event in history. We must see that God entered our frail, human condition. God understands human life…because He lived it.
God is given to us on Christmas Day as an infant. Small, weak, fragile, innocent. “Do not be afraid,” the angel said. Do not be afraid to gaze upon His humble presence and give glory to God for His coming. Come, let us adore Him!
Mission Update
Mission India is thriving thanks to the beneficence of God and the generosity of you – my dear benefactors. Please consider the poorest ones in your Christmas offerings. Our little orphans live by your goodness and generosity. Every dollar goes a long way at our Mission in India!
I place myself and our Mission into your hard-working hands – and the hands of our Savior. May you attain, dear friends, the gift of a blessed Christmas. I sincerely pray that our Savior might be born anew, by His grace, in your souls. God bless you all.
Merry Christmas!
Fr. Therasian Xavier
"And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
Luke 2:11-14
