Fourth Sunday of Advent

12-21-2025Weekly ReflectionFr. Abraham Orapankal, Pastor

Dear OLP Family,

Merry Christmas! Christmas is that magical time of the year when glittering decorations line the streets and homes and children are eagerly waiting to open the gifts under the tree. One word that we need to understand and reaffirm at Christmas is ‘incarnation.’ It literally means taking flesh. Christmas is the feast of God incarnating as a human being.

From my Indian background, incarnation is a familiar term for the Hindus. Their Scriptures describe ten incarnations of God “to restore righteousness in the world whenever there is a large-scale erosion of moral values.” But the Christian Scriptures teach only one Incarnation, and its purpose is given in John 3: 16: “God so loved the world that He sent His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him may not die, but have eternal life.” Thus every Christmas reminds us that we need a Savior to guide us, and that Savior is Emmanuel, God-with-us.

At the conclusion of the Jubilee Year of Mercy a few years ago, Pope Francis wrote in his Apostolic Letter (Misericordia Et Misera): “In a culture often dominated by technology, sadness and loneliness appear to be on the rise, not least among young people. This often gives rise to depression, sadness and boredom, which can gradually lead to despair. We need witnesses to hope and true joy if we are to dispel the illusions that promise quick and easy happiness through artificial paradises. We need to acknowledge the joy that rises up in a heart touched by mercy. Let us keep in mind, then, the words of the Apostle: “Rejoice in the Lord always.”

It is this joy that we try to express when we wish each other ‘Merry Christmas,” instead of “Happy Holidays.” I remember a few years ago, NJ Radio 101.5 had a poll in which the vast majority of New Jersians recognized the absurdity of the “Happy Holidays” movement. Happily, 8 out of 10 believe “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Hanukkah” are the appropriate greetings. Let us not be cowed down by the secular progressives who want us to be ‘politically correct’ by diminishing the display of Christian greetings, traditions and practices. Let us be proud of our Christian heritage that the founding fathers and mothers envisioned as our nation was founded on freedom. And religious freedom is an essential freedom that we need to practice. Merry Christmas to you and to your family, from us Fr. Sebastian Kaithackal and myself, from Deacon John Raychel and our dedicated OLP Parish Staff.

Your brother in Christ.