For some years now I have received Christmas cards from some friends that have no reference to Jesus. On the outer page you see a bouquet of flowers, or a tree covered with buntings; on the inside are some good wishes for the season! Christmas is becoming one more item for people to make money on, one more day for some special drinks and eats, one more occasion to display our latest dress, one more chance to make a special collection. For many of us, Christmas is a birthday celebration. Like many other celebrations, it has been effectively co-opted by the consumer market. We need to rediscover the religious meaning of Christmas. Explaining Jesus’ birth from a virgin, Matthew quotes Isaiah: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel—which means, God with us” (Mt 1:23; Is 7:14).
Login to read more
The author is professor emeritus, Indian Philosophy and Religions, Jnanadeep Vidyapeeth, Pune. He is now working on those questions that crop up during inter-religious and ecumenical dialogues.
