About 2000 years ago in Bethlehem, Judea, a child was born in a manger to Mary. It was during the reign of Caesar Augustus.

Joseph was engaged to be married to Mary. Before they were married an angel of the Lord appeared before Mary and greeted her saying that she would bear a Son and that she would name Him "Jesus".

According to WAF Hooper "the angel of the lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and explained how Mary found favour with the Lord and that she had conceived a Son by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Evangalist Hooper.Explains: "Joseph and Mary were staying in a town called Nazareth in Galilee." They had to go to their native town Bethlehem in Judea to register themselves for the census ordered by the Roman Government. At Bethlehem, there was no room available. They found a place in a manger. At that time the shepherds in a field nearby suddenly saw the angel of the Lord, The angel said, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that  will be for all people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you. He is Christ, the Lord.This will be a sign to you. You will find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger."

After the angel made this proclamation a great company of angels appeared and praised God saying : "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace and goodwill to all people." The shepherdswent to Bethlehem and found the Baby Boy with Mary and Joseph. They returned to their flocks praising God for all the things they had heard and seen on that first Christmas night. The event that happened that night is celebrated as Christmas every year. 

The Christmas season is a joyous occasion. Signifying the gift of Jesus Christ as the Son of God. Christmas is celebrated by giving gifts and holding mass in cathedrals. As the wonderful story of Christmas is told in it, beauty once more.

May the pleasures and joys that it brings you. 
Be greater than ever before.
Aay all God's infinite blessings.
Of peace and contentment and cheer,  
Remain after Christmas is over.  T
o brightn each day of the year."

There is no record of the life of Jesus until he was fully grown up. He astonished people by his insight when discussing religion with the religious leaders of his day. For three years he explained his claim as the "Only Son of God" and taught people about the true paths of human life in the shape of sermon on the mount.

   Jesus Christ has been called "the Great Exampler". He explained the real nature of God, man and the world he lived in. He taught people to change their way of looking at things. He told them that if they would change their outlook on life from its materialistic to its spiritualistic aspect, they would realise that the world they were living in was God's kingdom.

                       Jesus has left no written records of his important teachings. He delivered all his teachings orally. Neither he, nor his followers ever wrote down even a single word which was spoken by him, in his life time. According to Swami Shivananda, his words have been misunderstood, wrongly annotated, mutilated, deformed and transformed and yet they have survived almost two thousand years as they were very powerful and came from the heart of a realised Yogi.

                       Here is the gist of Jesus teachings : God is a spirit. He is omnipresent. He loves his creatures with infinite love. He is the father of all. God is immanent in the world. He is transcendental also. He sent his Son Jesus Christ unto the world to show them the way to attain immortaliy. The theological doctrine of Jesus is belief in the Fatherhood of God and brotherhood on man. In Godhead there are threepresons, viz., Father, Son and the Holy Ghost or Spirit. This the Trinity of Christianity."

                       "Sermon on the Mount" is the pinnacle of New Testament. Jesus says.: "Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful; for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they that have been persecuted for righteousness sake: for their is the Kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they when men shall reproach you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted thay the prophets which were before you.

                       Lord Jesus had twelvw disciples or apostles. Peter, James and John were the most intimate of Jesus disciples. They were all taken from the common people, the fisher-folkand other working men of Galilee. Most of Lord Jesus teachings were originally imparted to them and handed down by them. He sent his disciples on preaching mission.They were sent out two by two to roam about the towns and villages of Galilee without provision for the journey but they could accept whatever hospitality they could get. They were instructed to go to the Jews and give them the message; "The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand."

Like Christ, Humbly Serve Others

Jesus Christ exemplified a simple life of self-denial, self-discipline, self-giving love and selfgiving service in order to reach the poor in spirit, the poor in health, the poor in friends and the poor in purse. Jesus said, "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant and whoever wnats to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." The true test of our humanity is revealed by how much we enter into the life of the poor and identify with them. Jesus Christ the eternal Word so valued humanity that he took human form, humbled himself as a human child, became a carpenter's helper, and washed dirty feet. To Christ humans are worth living for! Humans are worth dying for!

Jesus 'Life style was exemplary . As a child he grew in favour with God and human persons. His parables show familiarity also with agriculture. Jesus accepted responsibility to care for his mother when Joseph died. The mirecles and parables of Jesus exhibited his appreciation for family affections, such as he displayed in the healing of the daughter of the Syro-phoenician woman and the daughter of Jairus and in the resurrection of Mary and Marth's brother Lazarus, and the parable of the prodigal son.

The birth of Jesus also indicates that in spite of the ugliness and pervasiveness of evil, creation is open to its maker and full of spiritual significance, gives us the hope of overcoming the social evils of this world. It is indeed a message that peace on earth and good willamong people may prevail.                                                 -Re. Richard Howell

  According to St. Mathews Jesus spoke this : "We have heared That it was said by them of old, thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill, shall be in danger of the judgment. But I say unto you that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause, shall be in a danger of judgement:p and whosoever shall say to his brother, Reca, shall be in danger of the council; but whosoever shall say thou fool, shall be in danger of hell-fire. Therefore, if thou bring the gift of the alter, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee; leave there thy gift before the alter and go the way; for thou to be reconciled to the brother and then come and offer the gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art in the way with him: lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge and the judge deliver thee to the officer and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee. Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou has paid the uttermost farthing."

                    Ye have heard that it was said by them of old, thou shalt not commit adultry. But I say unto you that whosoever looked on a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultry with her already in his heart. And if thy right eye offened thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee, for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy body be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offened thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee : for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members shpold perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. It hath been said, "Whosoever shall put away his wife let him give har a writting of divorcement : But I say unto you, that whosoever shall put away his his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultry : and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced commiteth adultry.

                      Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths; But I say unto you swear not at all : neither by heaven for to is God's throne; not by the earth : for it is his footstool, neither by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great king. Neither shalt thou swear by the head, because thou can not make one hair white or black. But let you communication by yea; Nay, nay for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil.

                       Ye have heard that it hath said, thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you and pray for them which despisefully use you and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for He maketh His sun to rise of the evil and on the good, and Sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? Do not even publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye do more than other? Do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect even as your father which is in heaven, is perfect."

                        Inward purity, meekness, forgiveness, returning  good for evil these are the distinctive features of Christianity. Man does not live by bread alone, but by every world that proceedeth out of the mouth of God, Jesus laid great stress on love of God. Love of fellowmen and of law. Faith in God is the central teaching of Jesus. He said : "Love of God must manifest itself in love to man. The Lord our God is one Lord. Thou shalt love the Lord, thy God, with all the heart with all thy" soul, with all thy mind and with all thy strength---thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself."

Lord Jesus wanted everyone to pray thus :
"Our Father, which art in heaven"
Hallowed by Thy Name.
Thy Kingdom come.
Thy will be done, as in heaven, so on earth.
Give us this day our daily bread,
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors
And lead us not into Temptation, But Deliver us from evil

                           For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. "This Is called the lord's prayer and is recited by every Christian everyday regardless of the fact that he/she may be a Catholic, Protestant or a Syrian Christian.

-Praveen Davar