by Swami Sivananda

Christmas is named after Christ. This is the birthday of Lord Jesus, the Saviour
Christ, the Yogi of the East. He was born in a stable at Bethlehem, of Mary and
Joseph, the obscure village carpenter. Mary and Joseph made the stable a home for
Christ, the King, the Prince of Peace. The birth of Jesus is celebrated all over
the world as the sacred Christmas.
Lord Jesus was an embodiment of mercy, love and humility. He was an apostle of non-violence
and peace. His body was crucified, but his voice has been speaking through the centuries.
The message of Christmas is the message of universal love. It is the message of
ineffable divine glory and splendour. The message of Christmas is the message of
peace and goodwill among all nations.
Christmas is more than a day of rejoicing and festivity. It is a day for realizing
the Christ-consciousness or cosmic consciousness. It is a day for remembering the
noble deeds of Lord Jesus and his sacred life of pristine purity. Christmas comes
and Christmas goes, but let the spirit of Christmas be ever with you all.
Merry-making is not Christmas at all. Christmas does not consist in ringing bells
and singing songs, exchanging mutual gifts and sending Christmas cards, and in enjoying
rich repasts and heavy dinners and eating cakes.
Christmas is a state of spiritual awakening. To realize the Kingdom of Heaven within
yourself, to hold communion with the Lord in the chambers of your heart, to regain
your lost divinity, to attain Christ-consciousness or cosmic consciousness, to love
all, to include all in the warm embrace of your love is real Christmas.

Realize the spirit of Christ. Walk in the footprints of Christ. Dive deep into the
heart of Jesus. Ever seek to express, in your daily life, love, joy and peace. Imbibe
Christ's message of love and sacrifice. Manifest the latent Christ within you. Follow
the Sermon on the Mount. Attain God-consciousness. Live in the spirit of Christ's
teachings. Annihilate this little self-arrogating personality and melt yourself
in Christ or the Universal Soul. This is real Christmas.
All wish to enter the Kingdom of God. But how many of you possess the real spirit
of Christ ? How many of you are real Christians ? How many of you follow the teachings,
precepts and doctrines of Christ ? How many of you love your neighbours as your
own self ? Those who are endowed with purity of heart, humility, universal love,
generosity and nobility - they only can attain the Kingdom of God or supreme peace
and immortality.
The spirit or heart of Christ is seriously lacking in the vast majority of persons.
The love of Christ is badly wanted. What is Christmas without love, mercy and purity
? Everybody wants to exploit his neighbour. One nation wants to destroy another
nation. Is this Christmas ? Is this the teaching of Christ ?
Real Christmas never comes and goes. It is eternal. Feel the spirit of Christmas
not only on one day, but throughout the year. Every day is a Christmas day for
a real follower of Christ, for a thirsting aspirant. May you all walk the path that
Jesus laid out! May you all be living embodiments of the Sermon on the Mount! May
you realize the Kingdom of God within you here and now!