As I write this article, I admit that the contents are those I have come to know and understand now – rather late in my life. If known earlier, Christmas would have been for me, not about Baby Jesus, but about the unquestionable Power of Jesus.

We all know the story of creation as in Genesis 1 or 2. Putting it very briefly – God spoke the Universe into existence beginning with the Sun, the Moon and the Stars. This was followed by the separation of the land and the sea, the creation of vegetation, all kinds of birds, animals and creatures of the sea.

It is said that the Universe is 26 billion light years across. It is also said that the sun is one of 100 billion stars in a galaxy. There are roughly 100 billion galaxies; each galaxy with 100 billion stars in them. The Sun is a ‘small star’ in which roughly one million Earths can fit. Why is this important? Because God knows every star by name. As mentioned in Isaiah 40:26 “Lift us your eyes and see: who has created all this? He has ordered them as a starry host and called them each by name. So mighty is His power, so great His strength, that not one of them is missing”.

God finally created Man. As in Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in His image; in the image of God He created Him; male and female He created them”. The central point, the highlight of creation is Man. This is the creature He loves the most. The one creature that gets His attention in this Universe that He has created is YOU!! He knows you by name. You are always on His mind. God has created us in His image and likeness for friendship, for communion with Him and with each other. The God who loves you is infinitely greater and more powerful than you can imagine. Every human person is destined “to share in God’s Divine nature, after repelling the corrupt and evil desires of this world (2 Peter 1:4).

Coming now to the subject of Christmas, let us ask ourselves “Why did Jesus become man?” He became man to rescue His creation from the powers of Sin, Death, Satan and Hell, and to return us to His Father, for all eternity. The Book of Wisdom describes the birth of Jesus in chapter 18: 14-15 “While all was in QUIET SILENCE and the night was in the middle of its course, YOUR ALMIGHTY WORD LEAPT DOWN FROM THE ROYAL THRONE – A STERN WARRIOR TO A DOOMED WORLD”. God became man to take back what is really His – the creature HE loves the most; made in His image and likeness, destined to partake in His Divine Life. You and I matter so much to God, that He did not send an Angel to rescue us. He did it Himself. He did it at the cost of His Life on the Cross.

To summarize, Jesus came into this world in total obedience to His Father; to fight a battle and rescue us from the hold that Satan has on this world, (which is his kingdom) and to take us back to the Kingdom of God where we belong. What is our Response to Jesus?

Our whole life is about Jesus. Let every Christmas and every day be one of Gratitude and Surrender. May it be a reminder of the battle Jesus came and fought for us and did it triumphantly. Let us ask Jesus to give us an unshakable confidence in His Lordship especially in the midst of the unrest we are living in right now. What is causing you fear and anxiety? Take it to the one who made the Sun, the Moon and the Stars. Jesus is absolutely and immeasurably stronger than the enemy.

As we prepare for Christmas this year, let us thank Jesus that our lives are in His hands; He is more than able to provide for us. He is more powerful, merciful and kind than we can ever imagine. Make Jesus your friend and your life will never be the same again.
May CHRISTMAS this year, for you, be filled with the joy of coming to know JESUS deeply.

P.S. For the actual video on this subject search
‘Fr. john Riccardo’ on YouTube.

-J. Rodrigues