Jeypore: Celebrating Christmas in Jeypore every year is a unique experience as it has socio-cultural and religious aspects. In Koraput district Christmas symbolises brotherhood and one can see all the dimensions of the celebrations at the Jeypore Evangelical Lutheran Church here.
It is indeed a God-given opportunity and a blessing. The ways of welcoming Infant Jesus are different and diverse here. Decorations, wine, gifts and of course dance, drink and dinner constitute the core of the celebrations.
Christmas also calls for fellowship with families and friends. People come together with their families and share the joy and peace of Christmas with everyone, especially with those in need.
Many people who stay outside Jeypore come back to their families to share the joy of Christmas. It also gives them a chance to meet old friends who also have gone out to distant places for their living.
Every year Christmas makes us excited in welcoming Baby Jesus who was born amidst grave danger. The Bible says that during those days hearing that a new King of the Jews had been born in Bethlehem, King Herod killed all male children below the age of two not only in Bethlehem, but in all the villages nearby.
Thus the first Christmas was hardly good news for the infants of that time in Bethlehem. The sad fact of Christmas is that while Jesus Christ was rescued, the babies of Bethlehem were slaughtered. There were tears, pain and suffering in all families which had infant boys then.
This was foretold by Old Testament Prophet Jeremiah centuries ago, and that is described in Mathew 2.16-18 in the New Testament. “A voice is heard in Ramah, weeping and great mourning. Rachel was weeping for her children and refused to be comforted, because they are no more.”
The quotation ends almost in despair. Rachel weeps while Mary rejoices. Rachel’s grief is inconsolable, and she pushes away her consolers. Her children are gone, never to return and she will weep for the rest of her days.
Rachel represents all mothers who have suffered for their children. Her story will touch the heart of every mother who has had a miscarriage, lost a newborn or buried a child in the prime of life. She represents all mothers who remain awake at night worrying for their children.
There are many Rachels who are weeping in our streets today, while the world is celebrating Christmas.
What does Christmas mean for those mothers who have lost their children in Pakistan or in India or in the US and other parts of the world? Mothers, who did not even get a chance to see the bodies of their children. Those mothers may refuse to be consoled, but God Almighty will comfort them nonetheless.
Rachel’s tears were not in vain for the souls of the infants were taken to heaven and they will live with God forever.
Today 400 million children aged under 13 are living in extreme poverty worldwide, according to a study released by the World Bank in Washington on October 10, 2013. This constitutes a full one-third of the 1.2 billion people still living on less than 1.25 dollars a day, says the report.
Jeffrey O’Malley, the Director of Policy and Strategy at UNICEF says, “All but three countries of the world have ratified the Convention on Rights of the Child, which guarantees access to basic social services for children, including social protection.”
He adds, “The number of children living in extreme poverty shows how far we are from fulfilling those rights. …..If the children don’t get adequate food, water, healthcare their potential will be compromised as they are essential for their intellectual and physical development into productive adults.”
The Bible is honest about the misery of humans, but it never gives in to it. Even losses that are inconsolable can be consoled. Quoting Jeremiah, Apostle Matthew declares that Jesus the Messiah came to bring joy to everyone including today’s Rachels.
On this Christmas Day, let us resolve that “Children would not be cruelly condemned to a life without hope, without good education, and without access to quality healthcare.”
May Baby Jesus who alone brings peace and joy to the world usher in a new era where all children will be safe, secure and sustained with love and care.
That is the true spirit of Christmas. Let us dedicate ourselves to wiping off tears from each and every eye.
PNN