"Today we are celebrating the Birthday of Jesus! In the Church we celebrate the birthdays of 3 great persons: Jesus, Mother Mary and John the Baptist.

Birthdays always bring lots of cheer and joy. Everybody celebrates birthdays - young and old, rich and the poor, people in the prison and outside, etc. Why? Every person is God's gift and birthday reminds us of this gift of God. If our birthdays bring so much joy, how about the birthday of Jesus? It naturally brings joy to everyone. That is why Christmas is celebrated by everyone in the world, irrespective of religion, culture, country, race etc. This is a universal festival.

For our Holy Father Francis, this is the first Christmas as Pope. He was interviewed by a Priest at Vatican and the first question he asked him was: "What does Christmas mean for you"?  Before I share with you his answer, let me ask you the same question: What does Christmas mean to you? (A festival of joy, an event of salvation, feast of Hope etc).

Yes, Holy Father's answer was: "He is God-with-us: do you believe this?" Pope Francis asked the crowd. When they responded "Yes!" Holy Father continued "But let us make this confession: Jesus Is God-with-us! All together: Jesus is God-with-us!" And he thanked the faithful for their enthusiastic response. Yes, God is with us. Do you believe this? Raise your hands.

If we believe this that God is with us, then why such adverse things  are happening in our life? - Tsunamis, earthquakes, bomb killings, sicknesses, accidents, deaths etc. This is the natural question we all ask God?

Fr. Tony D'mello once saw a poor child, crying of hunger, shivering in cold and pathetic sight. He asked God: Lord, why do you allow such things? Why don't you do something about it? Then the Lord answered: yes, I have already done something; that is why I created you".

Yes, Christmas is both an assurance of God with us and at the same time, a challenge posed to us to spread this message to others through our life so that others should know that God is with us. To the sick and the disappointed, we have to proclaim this message that God is with us - Emmanuel. He came down and became a child like us and He is walking with us holding our hand and He is with us.

Let us always remember this message: God with us and proclaim this message to others. We are joyful not because we have no problems but our joy is due to our belief that He is with us in the midst of all these difficulties and frustrations. He is the cause of our Joy.

Merry Christmas and a Blessed new Year!"

Inigo