Christmas thoughts

It's Christmas time once again, a time to join hands with everyone to unite in peace. As millions of people across the globe celebrate Christmas tonight, we in Sri Lanka expect the true meaning of Christmas would usher peace to our beautiful island.

The followers of Jesus Christ celebrate the birth of their saviour, which had taken place in Bethlehem, some 2006 years ago. Today, there are millions of followers of Jesus Christ all over the world.

Christianity was introduced to Sri Lanka by Europeans five centuries ago. Moreover, Christmas has turned out to be more than a religious event. Over the years, Christmas has become a global event, celebrated by people all over the world. Christmas is an event looked forward to by many belonging to different races. They observe it with joy and rejoicing.

The Christian minority here would share their joy with their neighbours belonging to other religious persuasions. There are Sinhalese, Tamils and Burghers amongst the Christians in Sri Lanka. Over the years, they have lived in harmony, sharing the good times and the bad.

The secret of Christianity's success all over the world, amongst different nations is due to its supreme Law of Love, the core proclamation of Jesus Christ, that man must not only love God selflessly and do his bidding but also love his neighbour in equal measure.

As the festive season reaches its peak with midnight Holy mass at churches all over the world, we must ponder on the very meaning of the word - Christmas, which has been flooded by a torrent of commercialism to the point where most people have forgotten the true significance of this Holy day.

The piety of Christmas faces a high risk from being overtaken by eye-catching illuminations, decorative stuff, pictures of Santa Claus, Christmas trees, all-night parties and carnivals. It is wrongly portrayed as a season of splashing on worldly goods and generally having a gala time.

There is nothing wrong in engaging in a festive splurge. But at the same time, we should pause a moment to reflect on the words of Jesus, who called for compassion to all. True Christians must remember the poor and the downtrodden during the season. As Jesus Christ has taught, Christmas is all about giving, sharing and caring.

The less affluent and under privileged segments of our society must be uppermost in our minds. Thousands of people who have either become unfortunate victims or lost their loved ones due to terrorist acts here should have a prime place in their prayers.

We should always think of those who have made the supreme sacrifice on behalf of us to protect our country. On the other hand, Christmas should be a day for reflecting on the need for peace in our island, torn apart by three decades of conflict.

There is a generation in our midst who know nothing but war. All what those innocent youth in North have seen are war and terrorist acts of the LTTE. We should make those youth and children aware that there is much more.

Sri Lanka has been blessed with a genial commitment to the ways and the values of a multi-religious, multi-racial and multi-cultural society for centuries.

Though petty party politics brought about bitter divisions in almost every sphere of life and racial conflicts erupted in the 50s, the relationship between the Buddhists and Christians has been healthy and productive.

But petty party politics and people with vested interests have created differences amongst citizens of our country. On top of that, ruthless acts of the LTTE terrorists have killed over 60,000 people over the past three decades. Many more have either got injured, displaced or suffered mental agony due to merciless attacks by Prabhakaran and his cadres.

Sri Lanka has lost many loyal and patriotic sons of our soil due to terrorism. Their families have undergone tremendous suffering as a result. Then there are thousands of innocent Tamils who are either displaced or suffering in the North. Some of them are still being trapped by Prabhakaran's human shields in places like Vakarai. They are our own people, our own brothers and sisters. Our thoughts and prayers should always be with them.

While we celebrate and enjoy this festive season, there are true sons of our soil who spend many sleepless nights in bunkers. Those brave security forces personnel are sacrificing their joy and happiness to make a safer tomorrow for all of us.

We must not forget that all of us could afford to celebrate this festive season with our loved ones because of the utmost dedication and devotion of our brave soldiers. They are hundreds of miles away from their families and loved ones.

Hence, we should take the message of love and caring this Christmas. That would narrow the differences among different ethnic groups, not only in Sri Lanka but the world over. As Christians believe, that is the world that Jesus Christ expects from man.

Irrespective of our beliefs or the nationality, time has come for all human beings in the global village to join hands and unite in peace.