Help downtrodden come up:Udupi Bishop

Udupi diocese Bishop Rev Dr Jerald Isaac Lobo called for a divine harmony among all sects and religions, especially the downtrodden should be taken along with the larger mass in the march towards betterment.

Delivering the Christmas message at Bishop's House here, the Bishop said Christmas heralds the birth of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

His magnetic personality was both human and divine. His life was an open book which revealed the infinite love and compassion of God towards man, he added.

Christmas cribs, Christmas cards, Christmas carols, Christmas stars and Christmas sweets (kuswar) along with the Santa Claus evoke feelings of joy and excitement on the birth of the Divine Baby of Bethlehem, he said.

"Rabindranath Tagore said every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged by man. Jesus, the divine child, who was born as the 'Emmanuel' has truly become God-with-us. He is the visible face of the invisible God. He summarized all the laws and prophetic instructions into the love of God and love of neighbour. He preached and practised forgiveness. He presented love as the panacea for all the ills of mankind. Angels sang at his birth - Peace to men of good will. Indeed, as Mahatma Gandhi felt," the bishop added.