the Sunday before Christmas- 21st Dec 08

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Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Luke 3: 23 - 38

Dear and Respected Brethren,

In today's reading we find the geneology of Lord Jesus Christ. In the first chapter of the Gospel according to St. Matthew we find another geneology. St. Luke starts from Lord Jesus and ends in King David whereas St. Matthew starts from Abraham, the father of all the faithful. St. Matthew also says that Lord Jesus is the son of King David. (See St. Matthew 1:1) In St. Matthew 1: 17 we read, "So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations and from David until the carrying away into Babylon are fourteen generations and from the carrying away into Babylon unto Christ are fourteen generations."

When we read this portion, we might think about the need of explaining the geneology of Lord Jesus. We should not forget the truth that the gospels were written not only for us but also for the Jews and others who had lived at the time of Lord Jesus and His blessed Apostles. We should not forget the truth that the entire Israel were looking forward and waiting anxiously for the savior, whom Lord God had promsed to the first parents. The Isrelites expected a Savior from their midst. So St. Matthew and St. Luke might have longed to establish the readers that Lord Jesus is the one for whom thousands had been waiting till then. When Adam and Eve were forced to leave the garden of Eden, they got the promise from Lord God about the incrnation of a savior. The old testament as a whole is the book which deals with the history of the great expectation of the Savior The prophets, kings and others gave leadership for the expectation. In such a situation it was a must to make them believe Lord Jesus as the one for whom generations after generations were waiting for.

Another reason for explaining the geneology is the desire to exhibit that Lord Jesus is also a King. The Jews of those days of the Apostles wanted to have genuine reasons to believe Lord Jesus. Every year we do celebrate Christmas. After a week or so, we will be celebrating Christmas. Will our celebrations be good enough for the incarnation of Lord Jesus in our hearts? Beyond all the colors and celebrations, we all must really long for the incarnation of Lord Jesus in our minds. Many Jews who had prior intimation of the arrival of the Savior, longed for the day of arrival with great thrill and enthusiasm. The Holy Church observes the 25 day lent prior to Christmas. How many of us were really interested in observing the lent? If we could not wait for the incarnation of our Savior so far, let us make use of the days till Chritmas for our genuine and serious waiting and preparation to receive Lord Jesus in our minds, in our homes, in our parishes, in our societies and among us all.

For Christmas special service, the burning of the fire (Thee Jwalayude Susroosha) is very important, which is being a traditional ritual, continued since so many generations. The main item (instead of the firewood) is the dried paracites from the trees (Ithil kanni) , in addition to the dry palm leaves of the previous palm sunday.The use of the same is very symbolic. We all know that the paracites would destroy the branches of the tress where it might have occupied its lives. Likewise many sins are there in us, which are spoiling our spiritual growth exactly like the paracites. When we approach God we must take out all such sins from us and put them in fire for the complete destroyal.

The fire stands for God. Moses witnessed God in the burning bush. Isaiah also had a vision of God and the fire was there. We all assume and believe that the presence of God is full of fire. We sing the hymn after the Holy Evengelion, "Theeyallo ee Madhbaha..." When the three youngsters were thrown to the burning fire, God Almighty reached there and because of God's presence the fire did not harm them. When the fire is set at the Church we are supposed to offer incense in to the fire, as if we might offer our gift to the new born Christ, exactly as the wisemen. Many people are throwing from distance whereas the right way is to put with real awe-feeling and reverence from a closer position from the fire pit. Until recently the ash from the fire pit were taken by our forefathers to spread in the paddy and other cultivational fields. (Ash from the firepit was supposed to protect the agriculture from insects etc)

May God bless us all.

Jose Kurian Puliyeril.