Dear friends,
I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas. May the blessings and peace of the Baby Jesus be all yours on this special occasion. I would also like to extend my heartiest gratitude for the wishes you sent me through cards. I appreciate your goodwill and prayerful wishes.
Once a little boy had a birthday and he was so small that he could not even understand what the celebration of birthday is. On the day of his birth he was the center of attraction the whole day. There was a delicious meal cooked and he got too many presents. His dad bought him a nice set of dress for the birthday hero and his fondest candies coupled with a brand new luxurious toy for him. The little boy was very happy even though he did not understand why all those things happened unusually.
At the end of day, the boy asked his dad, “Dad, what is special today that you and others gave me so many gifts?” His dad said, “Today is your birthday son. That is why we celebrate the happiness that you were born in this world to us.” The boy replied, “Oh! How I wish every month I had a birthday!” The same kind of wish creeps into my mind when I see such a large number of people in the Church for Christmas, Good Friday and Easter.
There are two kinds of Christians at large. One kind is those that come to the church and the other kind is those that are brought to the church. The second kind of Christians are those who are brought to the church for the sacrament of Baptism and those who are brought for the final farewell. These two things happen without our knowledge. Among those that come there are several sub groups of Christians. They are like Christmas Christians, Easter Christians, Good Friday Christians, family event Christians, and the list can go on. But the ultimate thing is that we are called to be Christians. We are called to be Christians all our life.
We come today to the church to celebrate Christ. This is the same reason that we should come for mass every weekend (at least). Because every Sunday we celebrate Christ. Except this is an annual event, Christmas would be like any other Sunday celebration. Because it is Christ that we commemorate and celebrate in every Sunday celebration. I am not trying to underestimate the greatness of this day, the Christmas. But I am trying to bring to your attention the greatness of the weekend masses. I am not trying to cast a negative feeling on this special day. But I am trying to reach out to more people to express the need to come to the Holy mass very often. I do not try to hurt the feeling of anyone, but as a pastor, I am trying to persuade you to understand the real meaning of being a Christian.
We are called to be Christians, not for a particular season or time. But we are to be Christians all through our life. To come to Sunday Eucharist is not one of the many jobs that we need to accomplish, but it is a handy tool for a greater accomplishment, that is to be a Christian. That is what is necessary. To accomplish the task of being a Christian, participating in the Eucharistic celebration is a MUST. Without that we can not make a good and lively Christian.
Again, I wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and my best wishes to you all to make a good Christian for which today, the day of the birth of the Savior would be a great start.
God bless you,
Yours sincerely in the Infant Jesus,
Fr. A. Antony
I would like to wish you all a very merry Christmas. May the blessings and peace of the Baby Jesus be all yours on this special occasion. I would also like to extend my heartiest gratitude for the wishes you sent me through cards. I appreciate your goodwill and prayerful wishes.
Once a little boy had a birthday and he was so small that he could not even understand what the celebration of birthday is. On the day of his birth he was the center of attraction the whole day. There was a delicious meal cooked and he got too many presents. His dad bought him a nice set of dress for the birthday hero and his fondest candies coupled with a brand new luxurious toy for him. The little boy was very happy even though he did not understand why all those things happened unusually.
At the end of day, the boy asked his dad, “Dad, what is special today that you and others gave me so many gifts?” His dad said, “Today is your birthday son. That is why we celebrate the happiness that you were born in this world to us.” The boy replied, “Oh! How I wish every month I had a birthday!” The same kind of wish creeps into my mind when I see such a large number of people in the Church for Christmas, Good Friday and Easter.
There are two kinds of Christians at large. One kind is those that come to the church and the other kind is those that are brought to the church. The second kind of Christians are those who are brought to the church for the sacrament of Baptism and those who are brought for the final farewell. These two things happen without our knowledge. Among those that come there are several sub groups of Christians. They are like Christmas Christians, Easter Christians, Good Friday Christians, family event Christians, and the list can go on. But the ultimate thing is that we are called to be Christians. We are called to be Christians all our life.
We come today to the church to celebrate Christ. This is the same reason that we should come for mass every weekend (at least). Because every Sunday we celebrate Christ. Except this is an annual event, Christmas would be like any other Sunday celebration. Because it is Christ that we commemorate and celebrate in every Sunday celebration. I am not trying to underestimate the greatness of this day, the Christmas. But I am trying to bring to your attention the greatness of the weekend masses. I am not trying to cast a negative feeling on this special day. But I am trying to reach out to more people to express the need to come to the Holy mass very often. I do not try to hurt the feeling of anyone, but as a pastor, I am trying to persuade you to understand the real meaning of being a Christian.
We are called to be Christians, not for a particular season or time. But we are to be Christians all through our life. To come to Sunday Eucharist is not one of the many jobs that we need to accomplish, but it is a handy tool for a greater accomplishment, that is to be a Christian. That is what is necessary. To accomplish the task of being a Christian, participating in the Eucharistic celebration is a MUST. Without that we can not make a good and lively Christian.
Again, I wish you all a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS and my best wishes to you all to make a good Christian for which today, the day of the birth of the Savior would be a great start.
God bless you,
Yours sincerely in the Infant Jesus,
Fr. A. Antony
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