WHEN so many people are feeling the pinch of hard times, with less money to go around, and some finding it impossible to make ends meet – on top of all that, here is Christmas! There are many people who would love to cancel Christmas this year!

There is a lot of anger around this Christmas season. People are asking who is to blame. Financial institutions, governments, politicians, the list goes on and on. The truth is a lot of people are responsible for the mess we are in. But blame alone won’t help us.

This is why we need Christmas more than ever this year. The story of Christmas brings light to the darkness we find ourselves in. Christmas reminds us of a generous God. Jesus was born, in hopeless circumstances; a helpless child, a stranger, poor and homeless. He came among the poorest of us, the most vulnerable, the weakest, to be alongside us, and to share our experience.

The message of Christmas is God’s self giving, for others. It is the gift of undeserved love that we are celebrating. And as we receive the gift of God’s love, so we are enabled to pass on that gift to others. It is in loving others, the hopeless, the helpless, the stranger, the poor and homeless that we will participate fully in the meaning of Christmas.

Yes, let’s celebrate Christmas in a unique way, even though it may have to be less extravagant this year. But also, let’s remember our neighbours and be our brothers and sisters keepers and those in need and those who are less fortunate than us. We can all do something, no matter how small. It’s not to make us feel good in giving to others, though it is good. It’s because that is the way the world is. If we don’t care for one another, we will harm each other. Christmas time reminds us that we live in the shelter of our neighbours. The New Jersey Arya Samaj Humanitarian Mission Christmas appeal this year invites us to ‘Give Hope’. One of the strongest grounds for hope at this difficult time is that our nation is blessed with people of extraordinary generosity, good compassion and social concern. The feast of Christmas invites us to mobilize that spirit of good will, peace and give hope. The spirit of Christmas, the spirit of being generous, self-giving love for others, is something worth celebrating.
During this blessed season, let us share the gift of God’s love by giving of ourselves and by sharing generously with those in need. Let us reach out to those who are different from us, yet one in the human family, by living the profound and universal lesson Jesus taught us: that we are to love our neighbours as ourselves. Let us, like Jesus, become true peacemakers, bringing the gift of peace to our homes, our schools, our communities, and our nation. And let us continue to reach out when and where we can to give new hope to the most impoverished and to help resolve conflicts, both ancient and new, in regions around the world.
St. Francis of Assisi reminds us, Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. Where there is hatred, let me show love, where there is injury, pardon, where there is doubt, faith, where there is despair, hope, where there is darkness, light, where there is sadness, joy. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, not so much to be understood as to understand, not so much to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in dying that we awake to eternal life.
Love, peace, joy, hope — so many beautiful words are woven through our Christmas songs and prayers and traditions. Let us resolve to build a future where all people learn to love one another and to live together in harmony; where our children know true joy; and where our hopes for peace, freedom, and prosperity for all are finally realized.
His timeless message of God’s enduring and unconditional love for each and every person continues to strengthen and inspire us this Christmas.