In the readings at Mass in the weeks leading up to
Christmas, I was struck by the line above from the Bible: ‘In His days justice
shall flourish and peace till the moon fails.’ (Psalm 72.7).
Justice and peace are not the preserve of any one
religion. These virtues are desired by all. It is a welcome reminder that
despite difference of caste and creed the aim for all is justice, peace and
amity. The line is a call for a new world order of harmony -- with nature and
among humans.
Christmas is a time which ushers in conditions for
peace and justice. Beyond the carols and
the crib, advent pushes all of us to reach out to others. Whether it be the
grimy child on the street, or the homeless men who sit by the fires at dusk,
this is the time to say ‘hello’.
Wrapped up in gifts and sweets, it is time to ask
where is peace and justice in all this? Does Isaiah ever ring through the
Christmas pudding?
At the risk of being a wet blanket, Christmas is a
cliché. For what are we doing now that we have not done before? Yes, it is a
ritual, you might say. We have to buy new clothes, we need to dress well, to
pay homage to the babe in swaddling clothes who was born among cows and
buffaloes (not to forget camels).
Christmas is not observed by Christians alone. People
from all persuasions find a special meaning at Christmas time.
This year the mantle has fallen on me to train the
kids to put up some carols for the annual Christmas programme. I noticed that
Catholic kids were conspicuous by their absence. When I probed gently, I gathered
that some were miffed that the notice for the carol practice was put on the
WhatsApp group by someone they had a dim view of.
I went ahead and started the practices. As a
musician, I cannot discriminate between groups. After all, it was for the kids.
Kids have no prejudices. As they jumped in through the windows to take their
places, I was touched by their innocence. They believed in the carols. They
believed in what they were singing. They were happy to be there.
What would a Christmas be if it were shorn of all
festivity? Would it be the same? Would it be more meaningful? Would it awaken
us to the real choices we are losing in the orgy of merriment?
When we went to Old Goa to sing carols with
another group, Menaka was our videographer and photographer. She took a lot of
trouble to be with the group in the first place. Her photos and videos turned
out beautifully.
Christmas is beyond faith. It is that still point
that makes us all human. It is the time we shed our differences. It is time to
come together as one family.
---------------------------------------------------
Published in Gomantak Times, Weekender, Panjim, Goa, on Sunday, 22 December 2019. Photo (top): 'Tis the time to be together' (Sitting) Diya, Rishaan, Sara, Tanushree, Kyra, Ashmit, Reyath and Avni. (Standing) Avisha, Jiya, Arshia, Ethan, Pauline, Dwayne, Akshat, Nathan, Kavish, Riddhi with Manisha, Banu and Queenie. Photo courtesy Saurabh Khanna taken on 21 December 2019. Photo (below): AIR, Panaji announcers carolling at Old Goa. Pix courtesy Menaka Seetharaman taken on 15 December 2019.
Comments