Christmas on the Calvary

Christmas is a great festival of enthusiasm and entertainment. The birth of Jesus Christ is celebrated throughout the world as Christmas. Actually Christmas means the Holy Mass (event of sacrifice) on the day of the Nativity of Jesus Christ. Christmas celebration of Emmanuel (God with us) which we commemorate on the Nativity of Jesus has more meaning if it is celebrated on the day of his sacrificial fulfillment. Actually there are a lot of similarities between Christmas at Bethlehem and Christmas on the Calvary.

Both Incidents(Christ Masses) on The Outskirts of Jerusalem

The first Christmas {Holy Mass of the Nativity) took place at Bethlehem, a hilly place near Jerusalem. The second and the fulfilling Christmas (Holy Mass of total sacrifice) took place on the Calvary, another hill near Jerusalem.

Event of Birth

God was born as the son of man. Man was redeemed from sin and was born again as the son of God. A son was born to Mary at Bethlehem. The whole humanity was given as children of Mary at Calvary.

Utter Negligence

There was no place in the inn. God came to dwell among the humans and there was nobody to receive Him. A child had to be delivered in utter negligence and laid in a manger. On Calvary it echoed in his shouting, “Eloi, Eloi, Lema Sabactani.” Even his heavenly Father had neglected him.

Presence of Angels

The heavenly angels attributed glory to God and wished peace for the men of good will. In the second event angels consoled Jesus and encouraged him to fulfill the will of God. Jesus promised eternal life the man of good will on the cross to his right.

Descending of God

God annihilated Himself into nothing and became man. Jesus emptied himself in complete surrender to His heavenly Father and went down to save the awaiting souls.

Kingdom

The first incident witnessed the arrival of the Magi in search of the King of Jews. The second incident depicted the confusion about the Kingdom itself Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” Jesus explains him the nature of his Kingdom.

Shedding of Blood on Both The Occasions

Circumcision marked the first offering which culminated in the shedding of blood till the last drop with the piercing with the lance when the death of Jesus on the cross was confirmed.

There are many more of such comparisons that make us stand thoughtful about the birth and death of Jesus Christ. The Christmas at Bethlehem is fulfilled with the Christmas on the Calvary. They are inseparable and invite the whole humanity to take part in the eternal banquet which is an unending process.