All human beings when they live as brothers and sisters in service and respect and honor, they experience true peace and this is the experience of ‘Bandhutva’ (brotherhood), said Mangaluru Bishop Fr Dr Peter Paul Saldanha.
He was delivering Christmas message after cutting the Christmas Cake as part of Christmas celebrations held at Bishop’s House in Kodialbail here, recenlty.
Bishop said, “Humanity surpasses all religious boundaries. As we celebrate Christmas, let us accept all human beings as brothers and sisters. This is the essence of our human existence, this is the real Bandhutva.”
Stating that the whole creation rejoiced at the birth of Jesus, the Bishop said as per Christianity, God is the beginning and the end (alpha and omega) of our lives.
“The essence of Christmas is the truth and perfect love revealed by God in the form of Jesus Christ,” the Bishop said.
He added God became human in the person of Jesus Christ, who was conceived in the womb of Mother Mary with the power of the Holy Spirit. He was born on a manger at Bethlehem to bring back the fallen human being. The birth of Jesus brought joy to the world, Saldanha said.
Human beings are victimized by their own instincts and drift away from the God. What a human being really experiences is the illusion of peace, which is temporary. When we live in favour with God we experience the true peace; living and sharing the same peace with fellow beings propagates brotherhood. Jesus says “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God (Mathew 5:9).”
Highlighting the environmental aspect, Fr Bishop quoting Pope Francis’s ‘Laudato si’ message said, “Earth is our common home and it is our responsibility to take care of our common home. It is our foremost duty to protect our mother earth and become the messengers of environmental protection.”
Vicar General Msgr Maxim L Noronha, Chancellor Rev Fr Victor George D’Souza, Public Relations Officers Fr Victor Vijay Lobo and Marcel Monteiro, Diocesan Pastoral Council Secretary Melwyn Noronha, CCC Director Fr Richard D’Souza and Media Adviser Elias Fernandes were present.