Christmas Message from Fr. Uday

One of the German mystic Angelus Silesius said that “Christ could be born a thousand times in Bethlehem – but all in vain until He is born in me.” He means that Jesus must be reborn in our heart during this season of Advent and every day of our lives, radiating his love, kindness, mercy, forgiveness, and spirit of humble service to the world through our lives. Christmas is more than just something that we do, or something we give. In fact, Christmas is about someone, and this someone has a name, Jesus- ‘the Christ’, ‘the Messiah’, the Emmanuel, the Godwith-us, the God who humbly came down from his throne in heaven, and chose to be born in a lowly manger-from a poor family- a saviour who has been born to us (Lk 2:11), the ‘true light that enlightens all people (Jn 1:9). God is so in love with us that he wanted to become like one of us, not to put himself lower but to lift us up higher. In love, he willed to become part of our human story, in order for us to become part of the Divine story. In love he was born for us because he wanted us to be part not just of the ‘Good story’ but of the ‘God-story.’ This is indeed worth celebrating and worth rejoicing. Let us endeavour this time therefore, to encounter in a more real and personal way the Lord who has come to live with us and to live among us. Many times, in our life, God wants to come. But oftentimes we say, "God not now. I am not ready." Yes, at times we fail to acknowledge Jesus coming to our lives, because, we feel uncomfortable with him. Our personal "inn" is full now, of many things that the world has offered to us, the latest gadgets, the irrelevance of religion in our lives, the discomfort and uneasiness we feel when we talk of God, of Jesus, and of other religious stuff. We no longer have room for Jesus in our lives. This CHRISTMAS time then challenges us to make room for CHRIST in our personal "INNS". And not just that, but to make him the CENTER of our INN. It's hard I know, because Jesus CHRIST, may comfort the afflicted, but he also afflicts the comfortable. But if we just make him the center of our lives, then we can proudly and sincerely say to each other...CHRIST is in me and in all of us. He is the reason for this season. I wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a grace-filled New Year 2025!

Kyabram Christmas Carols St Augustine’s Christmas Mass Times