Holy and Heavenly Christmas to ALL
There was a multitude of the heavenly host of angels praising God and saying, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill towards all men" (Lk 2:13-14)
How will you glorify God? Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father who is in heaven" (Mt 5:16). Christians are those who live like Christ Jesus. If Christ is in you and you follow his teachings, then you are a real Christian. Christmas is not a day for smoking, drinking and getting involved in sinful activities. It is a day to invite Jesus into your hearts. Jesus who was born two thousand years ago into this world, must now take birth in your heart and your family so that your family will became another Holy Family.
All the people who visited Jesus in Bethlehem at the time of his birth praised and worshipped him. None of them drank or smoked or got involved in sinful activities (cf Mt 2:1, Lk 2:20, Rom 14:17). Therefore, glorify God with your good works and with your exemplary life, so that looking at your life people may glorify God, the heavenly Father. 
How will you maintain peace on earth? We see that the whole world is in trouble. There is no peace or happiness in any country or in many families. People are against people. There are wars, famine, violence, sickness, lawlessness. Why do we have all these problems? The Bible says the world is under a curse (Gen 3:17-19) and under the control of Satan (Lk 4:6). Hence Satan or any government of this world can never give us the real peace and happiness we desire. Real peace and happiness will come only from heaven, that is, from Jesus who came from heaven. Jesus said, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you, not as the world gives" (Jn 14:27).
In Jesus and with Jesus we get real peace because Jesus is the prince of peace (cf Is 9:6). If you or your family and country forsake Satan, and his activities, and invite Jesus into your life, then you will have peace and you can give peace to others.
It is very difficult to love all the people and forgive our enemies, but when Jesus takes birth in our heart and mind, the Spirit of Jesus helps us to love all and forgive our enemies. Therefore, invite Jesus during this Christmas season and be filled with his Spirit so that you can forgive your enemies and be an instrument of peace and happiness as Mother Teresa of Calcutta was.
Examine yourself whether you live in peace with all. If not, be reconciled with those with whom you are not on good terms, before celebrating Christmas so that "peace on earth" may start from you and your family.
How can you bring goodwill towards all men? Jesus said, "Whatever you have done for the least of these poor brothers and sisters you have done to me" (Mt 25:31-46). Christmas is a time of giving gifts. What gifts and to whom? We can give the gift of love, joy, peace, happiness to those who do not have these gifts. The gift of forgiveness to our enemies, the gift of food, clothes, shelter and care to the poor who are in need. All these gifts will bring comfort to a person as long as lives in this world. However, do not forget to give the gift of salvation to the people who do not know Jesus. By bringing a person to Jesus by your action and preaching, you are showing the way of salvation to that person so that he will be in heaven after his death and not in hell! (cf Rev 7:910; Rev 20:14-15; Rev 21:8).
When Jesus was born there appeared in the sky a bright star (cf Mt 2:9-11) which showed the way to Jesus to the wise men from the East. They wanted to see Jesus, yet they did not know the way. The star directed them to Jesus. Today, millions of people in the world do not know the way of salvation, joy, peace, happiness and deliverance. Everyone of you can be a star in your own family, your neighbourhood, school, college and bring the people around you to Jesus so that they can receive the gift of joy, peace, happiness, deliverance, physical and inner healing and salvation. There were many stars in the sky but only one star was bright and different from all others. In the same way, try to be different and bright as the Lord wants you to be. We are in this world but not of this world.
A ship can sail in the sea but if the sea water enters the ship, the ship will sink into the deep sea. In the same way we can live in the world but if the sins of the world enter our life, our family, we will sink into hell. So be a star for Christ from this Christmas onwards. Fr Augustine Vallooran v.c Christmas Links
"There are many around us who have no one to love or care for them and
who desperately need to hear the Comforting Message of His Love.
As Jesus did for us, let us all reach out to others in caring love.
Be the Love of Christmas 2009 to someone who is most in need!"
who desperately need to hear the Comforting Message of His Love.
As Jesus did for us, let us all reach out to others in caring love.
Be the Love of Christmas 2009 to someone who is most in need!"
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