My dear brothers and sisters:

We have come to the most wonderful time of the year. Jesus Christ our Savior is the centerpiece of the season. Most of the people, Christmas is a time to celebrate, nothing else, they don't even know what they are celebrating. Christmas is the remembrance of the ‘Incarnation' or the ‘in-flesh- ment' of the Son of God as a human being. This is not a legend or a man made story said by an anonymous. Christmas is a real thing happened in the midst of time and space as part of the history. It became the median of the history. This is the story states the intervention of God in the humanity.

Today Christmas has become a festival of choices, a festival of convenience and a festival of replacement and substitutes in many aspects. Christmas has lost its originality and its meaning. The place for Baby Jesus has taken by the old chubby red-suit legendary Santa and of course snowman. The greetings now became a vague and meaningless “happy holidays” and by most of its actions and rituals like the overuse of alcohol and stuff like that it became ‘unholy'.

In a Christian and orthodox perspective, Christmas is pretty much a celebration of the ‘spirit' than of the body. Lent and fasting set by the Holy Church as a preparation for this celebration. Let not the Santa block our views from the centerpiece the ‘newborn king' the Savior Jesus. Do not let the ornaments and decorations around us keep us away from seeing the real beauty of the festival. The real meaning of Christmas is more than lights and bright colors, more than parties and celebrations, more than decorating trees.

Let us join the heavenly hosts in thanking our Eternal Heavenly Father for sending His Son to atone our sins. Let us also say “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men”. (St. Luke. 2:13, 14)

On behalf of the St. Mary's Orthodox Church of Dallas in Farmers Branch , I wish everyone a “ BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR”. Thank you and God bless you and your family.

With love and prayer:

Thampan Achen.