Dioceses of Jaffna: solidarity and prayer for a peaceful Christmas
by Melani Manel Perera
In a country where war and violence force families into fear, an invitation is given so that we may witness the arrival of Christ, “The King of Peace”. Avoid luxurious parties and bring spiritual and material comfort. Some concrete gestures to remind that the birth is real.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – An invitation to all Catholics to join hands with the entire population for a truly meaningful Christmas in a country where everyday we are faced with “fear, anxiety, trauma, hatred, impotence, codes of silence, starvation, insecurity, denial of the right to a decent job, kidnappings, violence of every type, anonymous telephone threats, compromising and surrendering to save his own life and an unsustainable increase of prices”. In a document by the Diocesan Commission of Jaffna for priests, religious, lay institutes and seminarians, they remind us of “the daily homicides and kidnappings”, “that for years have torn the right to life, which is the greatest gift from God to man”, and recalls the true meaning of Christmas.
After having reminded that “no family has been excluded from these crimes”, the document recalls the scolding of Christ: “I was hungry, and you did not feed me, I was thirsty and you did not give me to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick in prison and you did not visit me”. For this reason, some suggestions are given so that Catholics can “unite their minds and hearts as one family and one community”. The faithful are invited to avoid luxurious celebrations, hold back on spending money on “clothes, decorations and parties” and to give much as possible to those who are needy, to dedicate time visiting and comforting families who have lost loved ones to homicides, rather than sending out Christmas cards; without religious or racial discrimination.
In order to express the desire for peace, the respect for dignity and human rights, the faithful are asked to have a light lit in front of their homes every Sunday from 7pm to 8pm and encourage others to do the same. To hoist white flags in their homes with the word “peace”, to remember the birth of Christ as the coming of the “King of Peace”. And to remember the message: “Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth, who give him thanks ” for guiding us in our journey towards the dawn of 2008 as a year of peace and respect for the human rights of all people. In the preparation for Christmas, everyone is invited to participate and to pray each Sunday afternoon in churches of Jaffna.
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