A wonderful exchange: This exchange is between God an man. God becomes man in order to make man endowed with divine values. God comes down on earth in order to lift up man to himself. God who is almighty, who is incomprehensible, the bodiless, comes down taking to himself flesh and blood for the sake of our flesh and blood. The incarnated God is the full revelation of the invisible God. So is he termed as the Son of God. This Son of God took to himself all that is human, except sin. He was conceived by the Virgin Mary who was first purified in body and soul by the Spirit. Mary was immaculate right from her birth; and it is perfectly so, because the most Holy is born in the "temple" of Mary that is most pure, most holy.

This new born Jesus who enriches others becomes poor. First of all he took to himself the poverty of human flesh so that man, might obtain the riches. He who is full empties himself. He who is almighty becomes powerless -- only to make us powerful with his mercy and grace.

And he does it through his words and deeds: teaching, doing to others through many miracles: giving life to the dead, sight to the blind and many other good deeds and finally through his unconditional forgiving love manifested through hid suffering, death and glorious resurrection. A wonderful exchange indeed! Christmas is a celebration of this exchange: God coming to this world in order to bring man to him!

Biblical reference: This birth of Jesus brings tremendous joy to the world because this birth is for the spiritual salvation of the whole world. The world is liberated through this Jesus: his life, his preaching, his examples and finally his redemptive death on the cross and his glorious resurrection. And so at the nativity of Jesus the Angel has this happy announcement to the shepherds, the first guests who came to meet him, "I bring to you a news of great joy which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; you shall find the baby wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger" (LK 2: 11-12). And also the multitude of heavenly angels praising God singing, "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is well pleased" (LK 2:13-14).

Born to dwell with us as a light: The Bible states that "The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). This Word is God Himself that comes to humanity embracing the same human nature in everything but sin. Here we reflect the tremendous love of God for mankind. He comes down from above in order to let mankind find its dignity back and be with the same bond with God. He comes to dwell among us. He can dwell only when we are prepared with our holiness in heart and mind, in words and deeds. A person, a family, a nation when renewed spiritually can welcome Jesus to dwell. Jesus is born as a Light. His coming throws off darkness of sin from the world; the world is brightened with new light. Christmas is a feast of light. It calls all men to come out from the darkness of sin and be enlightened with good deeds. The three Magi were led to the place of the birth of Jesus by a lighted star (Cfr. Holy Bible, Gospel of St. Mathew 2:9). We are called to be guided by the divine Light who is Jesus. Christmas is truly a feast of light.

Challenging message: The Bible says that the kingdom that Jesus brings has some challenging characteristics that are expressed in symbolic manner: "The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, and the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall feed; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox" (Prophet Isaiah 11:1-8). Again we read in the Bible: "Nation will not lift sword against nation, there will be no more training of war" (Isaiah 2:3-4).

This year's Christmas message is therefore not at all soft. It brings us challenge: challenge of telling the truth; challenge of being really patriotic; challenge of not making any double personality; challenge of being truly impartial and neutral; challenge of working with free conscience; challenge of keeping oneself totally free from devil that leads to temptation.

No sword but peace and harmony: It is not merely a slogan, because slogans are these days very cheap. It must be a reality. Jesus is born to liberate mankind from the bondage of sins: personal sin, communal sin, national sin etc. Sword brings division, clash, hatred, suspicion, death, injustice, greed for power and misuse of power; and these are personal, social, national sins. Christmas calls everyone to have a reflective glance on the Christmas crib, reflect on the birth of Jesus and be tremendously touched by the values that this nativity embraces and renounce. Following the message of Christmas the result will be a new person, new society -- where will dwell peace, true peace.

Celebrations: The Christmas prayer service, the Holy Mass is held at night, traditionally called mid-night Mass, on 24th of December and in the morning of December 25. Presided by Catholic priest (Rev. Father or Most Rev. Bishop/Archbishop) this Christmas liturgy is indeed joyful with hymns and prayers as well as Bible reading specially noted in the liturgical calendar for Christmas. Culturally speaking people normally decorate houses during, Christmas star is hoisted and Christmas carols are sung. Delicious and variety of cakes are prepared in almost each family and are shared with friends and neighbours irrespective of caste and religion. People go house to house to exchange Christmas wishes.

Conclusion: We can conclude our Christmas reflection with our oath to be aware of the message of Christmas: No sword but peace! This oath is a must not only for Christian community that celebrates Christmas but for all. We all have the moral responsibility to make this world, a better place to live. Peace is inner disposition of man's life expressed in outward personality through words and deeds. When we are men of peace we don't destroy but build, we don't demolish human life but help it grow. Let us not tell others to change but let each one take step to bring creative change within himself or herself. This year let our prayer to newborn Jesus be: Make me a channel of your peace; where there is hatred, let me bring your love, where there is injury, your pardon Lord. And where there is doubt, true faith in you. (Taken from the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi).