Dear Editor,
About 2015 years ago, in the city of Nazareth, there was a virgin girl named Mary. She was a righteous and pious girl. She was espoused to a man named Joseph, son of Jacob citizen of the Bethlehem. Joseph was a righteous and God fearing person. God saw that Mary was a holy girl, so God sent his angel Gabrial to Nazareth a town of Galilee to give the good news to Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings to you, you are highly favoured, the Lord is with you”, but Mary was very confused and troubled at his words. She wondered what kind of greetings might these be? But the angel of God said to her “Do not be afraid Mary, God is pleased with you and. The Holy spirit will shy upon you and you will bear the Holy One and Call him Jesus. He will redeem his people from their sins”. After listening the angel’s message, Mary said to herself “May God’s desire be fulfilled”. When Joseph heard that his wife is found to be pregnant before marriage, as he was a good man so he did not want Mary to be exposed to public disgrace. So he was minded to put her away secretly. An angel of the Lord appeared to him in dream and said, Joseph don’t be afraid to accept Mary to be your wife. The baby inside her womb is by the grace of Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a child you shall name him Jesus. Joseph woke up and he did as per the Lord commanded him to do. He took Mary home as his wife. Joseph did not have any sexual relationship with her until his first son was born. At that time Roman’s were ruling Israel. A rule was passed by the Roman ruler Caesar Augustus that all the citizens must have their names registered in their home town. Joseph belongs to the house of David, so he had to go to the city of king David in Bethelhm for the census. When Joseph and Mary reached Bethelhem it was getting dark and the town was over crowded due to census. They could not find any accomodation in any of inns. So finally they had to stay in a cattle shed. That night baby Jesus was born to Mary and She wrapped him in the Swadling clothes and put him in the manger. There were shepherds roaming out in the field near by keeping watch on their flocks. At night the angel of the Lord appeared to them and glory of the Lord shone around them and they were frightened. But the angel said to them, do not be afraid. I have brought a good news of great joy for you and for all the people in the town of Bethelhem. A saviour has been born for you he is the Christ the Lord. This will be a sign for you. You will find a baby wrappered in clothes and lying in a manger. After giving this message, the angel went away. After hearing this message, the shepherds said to each other,” Let’s go to Bethlehem and see the God’s miracle, that the angle had said, and they went there and they found Mary and Joseph along with a new born baby Jesus, lying in a manger and they adored the baby and went back by praising and singing what they have seen. ” Centuries ago, it had been prophesied that a saviour, a Messiah would be born and at the time of his birth a bright star will appear in the east. Three wise kings from the east came to Jerusalem looking for the saviour, The king of the Jews and the star they have seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the chiid was born when they saw the star they were over joyed and to see child with his mother Marry and Joseph lying in the manger and they kneeled down and worship him and they presented him gifts of gold, frankincense and Myrrh and this is how the birth of Jesus came about bringing happiness to the whole world. Christmas is a festival of peace, joy and harmony. Jesus Christ came to this world in the form of a human, Whereas he was not a human but God Himself to give eternal life to people and save them from the punishment of their sins.
A very Merry Christmas to all the people of Jammu and Kashmir.
Wilson Mattoo
Jammu