Celebrate Christmas by forgiving enemies – Jaison

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Dec. 27 (EMN): Rev. Fr. Jaison CJ, assistant priest of Mary Help of Christians Cathedral, said the decorations around ‘us reminds that Christ is living in us in our homes’ while the annunciation of the angel to Mary and Joseph taught ‘us to surrender our own dreams and rely on God’s plan’.

He was delivering a sermon as the main celebrant during the Christmas vigil at the church on December 24 in Kohima.

“The carol singing led me to proclaim Christ’s birth like the angels,” Jaison said, adding, “The crib making and baby Jesus in it taught me to be content with what we have and not run for the show of the world”.

The priest also reminded that “Christ’s coming to the world and living among us” have taught people to surrender their own comfort and culture to “make Christ in others.”

He also said that people of Nagaland have displayed a real Christian message of Christmas: “To celebrate Christmas means to be like Christ by forgiving our enemies inspite of the fact that we have been persecuted and killed for being good to others by our enemies, and never take revenge for the innocent suffering”.

“May our Nagas being Christians teach the whole world that our God in Christ takes no revenge but only forgiveness and sacrificing our lives for others as Christ taught us,” he Jaison reminded.

Delivering the homily on Christmas Day during a mass at St. Francis de Sales parish in the state capital on Saturday, main celebrant Rev. Fr. Gwatilo Alex Tep, reminded the believers to put Christ above everything.

He narrated how Mary and Joseph — the parents of Jesus– were denied accommodations to give birth while King Herod planned to kill the Christ child. However, on the other hand, Tep also said there were people like the shepherds and three wise men from the east who rejoiced at the news of Jesus’ birth.

As such, he reiterated to follow the examples of those who experienced the “real joy at the good news” and came to worship the child Messiah, leaving all their interests and securities.

“It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you,” he also quoted Mother Teresa, reminding to spread love to others and not only to keep it for oneself which does not justify the meaning of Christmas.