Christmas Day

Here is a story. In a small village there was a tradition – if somebody finds anything that belongs to another, the person must go to the village square and loudly shout ten times: I have found this thing. If no one claims even after ten shouts then it would belong to the finder. One day a man who had found a gold ring on the street went to the village square, followed the ritual and shouted ten times that he had found something as required and then returned home. Upon his return his wife asked him, “Where have you been?” He said, “Oh! I had found a gold ring. So following the tradition of our village I went to the square.” His wife said, “How foolish you are. You went in the middle of the night when everybody is asleep. Did you really shout ten times?” The man said, “Yes, I shouted, but not so loudly. I just mumbled, because I saw a beggar sleeping nearby and I was afraid that he may wake up and claim it. But I have followed the rule; now there is no trouble. We can keep it forever.”
Christian faith does not end with us finding Christ and following certain rituals to show our faithfulness to him but also proclaiming these glad tidings as loud as possible to those who have lost him and who are yet to find and believe in him because Christ the Messiah has come for all people. He is for you, for me and for everyone.
What do you have to offer to others? Do you have any of the glad tidings or good news that our Messiah has brought to you? Or do you have only thoughts, words and actions that bring sadness to others? Our glad tidings could be very simple: I love you. I remember you. I forgive you. I pray for you. I thank you. I appreciate you. I share with you. Do not be afraid. God is with you. God Bless You. I can help you and so on. These are important as they will bring so much hope, peace, joy, love and light to others. Let us today ask our Lord to bless our efforts to bring the glad tidings to everyone in need.
Merry Christmas!