“This life is short, the vanities of the world are transient, but they alone live who live for others, the rest are more dead than alive”, said Swami Vivekananda (saint and philosopher from India – 1863 to 1902). An interesting incident happened in the life of Swami Vivekananda. As a young man, he was interested in being absorbed in meditation and immerse himself in the realization of his true identity. He approached his spiritual guru (teacher) Sri Ramakrishna with the intent of requesting him to guide him. In retort, his teacher said to him ‘my boy, I was thinking that you would be like a huge banyan (fig) tree under whose shade many people would take shelter from the scorching sun and the birds would build their nests. But I see that you are only interested in your own happiness and salvation. Fie upon you! No, you should serve all beings looking upon them as embodiments of the Divine. That is a higher ideal than seeking your personal salvation’.
Indeed, the spirit of Christmas is that of caring and sharing – not mere going to the Church or having a ‘good’ time by shopping, feasting and family reunion. Jesus the Christ himself served the poor and downtrodden, giving them solace through thought, word and deed. Even today the tradition is maintained by the Vatican when the Holy Father (the Pope) washes the feet of the poor with great reverence, in whom he sees the embodiment of Christ. Indeed, we should see the real Christ in the hearts of everyone, more so in those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
When you are generous to the poor, you are enriched with blessings in return. Proverbs 22:9
