COVID-19 and CHRISTMAS-20

 

The people who lived in darkness have seen a great light, and on those who lived in the shadow of death, light has dawned (Isaiah 9:2). 

COVID-19 experience was an experience of darkness and shadow of death when the entire world was affected by the pandemic.Surrounded by the fear of death, mankind took to measures hitherto unknown and unfamiliar such as lockdown for months bringing life to a standstill. Places of worship remained closed and crises in different sectors affected human life. In our own country, the scenes of migrant workers returning home covering hundreds of kilometres of distance on foot and without food, will remain ever fresh in our memory! Darkness and shadow of death enveloped the world during this time. The "shadow" has its "light" too.

Thanks to lockdown,mother earth breathed a sigh of relief and returned to its "pristine" freshness. Families found more time to be together in sharing life and in prayer. People, both individuals and groups, helped the poor with an unprecedented generosity. Health protocols, online classes and meetings, webinars and conferences became the "new normals"! The service by doctors, nurses, healthcare workers, police and the ordinary workers who maintained the general services at the risk of their own lives, was truly heroic! CHRISTMAS-20 is bringing light of hope, peace and joy to all because Jesus Christ the Light has come into the world! When the world is helpless and afraid, the presence of Jesus amidst us gives us cause for confidence and joy. The birth of Jesus as a human being gives value to our human life. Jesus humbled himself to share in our humanity by becoming a human being so that we may share in the mystery of his divinity. To live as a Christian is essentially to love God and to love our fellow human beings. Let us live this love with maximum intensity: Let us have the humility to see Jesus incarnate very specially in the poor, the elderly, the sick and the needy. I wish all the readers of THE HERALD a HAPPY CHRISTMAS and a PEACE-FILLED 2021.