Blessed Christmas 2005 and a Happy New Year 2006

by Fr. Mathai Varkey Puthukkunnathu

Emmanuel = God with us - A Brief Thought

The genuine meaning of Christmas is in the word ‘Emmanuel’ which means God with us. The only begotten Son of God, Emmanuel emptied Himself and took the form of Adam to facilitate the golden opportunity for humans to regain the lost glory and the divine communion that the creation originally enjoyed with the Creator. In Paradise, man was in full communion with the Lord, without any blemishes.

After the humans disobeyed God, their sin barred them from the communion with God. The real and beautiful Earth then was transformed and fell under the curse because of the horrible sin that man had committed. This is clear in Romans 5:12-13. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned—for before the law was given, sin was in the world.” The sin disqualified humans from enjoying the Divine Fruit from the Tree of Life, as we read in the book of Genesis 3:22-24. “ And the LORD God said, "The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever." So the LORD God banished him from the Garden of Eden to work the ground from which he had been taken. After he drove the man out, he placed on the east side of the Garden of Eden cherubim and a flaming sword flashing back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.”

However, the Lord is a soul searching God. That is what we read in Genesis 3: 9. “ But the Lord God called to the man, "Where are you?.” This search continued, even though He drove them away from Paradise. The search persisted along with His compassion and love for humans. He also sought after men and gave many opportunities to them to remember God, his Creator. Gen.4:26. “-- At that time men began to call on the name of the LORD”. Many in the lineage of Adam and Seth enjoyed the spiritual company of God, in the manner that was pleasing to the Lord. Gen: 5:22 “--Enoch walked with God 300 years and had other sons and daughters. Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.” “Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God.” Gen. 6:9. 

Throughout the human history, as portrayed in the Old Testament, we come across many God fearing men and women who lived their lives, pleasing the Almighty God. But those great attempts and hard works, including that of the Prophets, Kings and Judges until John the Baptist were not fully satisfying the criteria for making an atmosphere for full communion with God. The peaceful, loving and caring blessed union with God was still unattainable. The human suffering, tribulation and endless wandering continued, in spite of great milestone accomplishments by the chosen ones of God. 

Let us look in to the prophetic utterance of the high priest Zachariah; known as Benedictus; “ --to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace." Luke 1:77-79. This prophecy becomes fulfilled at the Incarnation of the only begotten Son of God. The Blessed Virgin, brings forth a child who is Emmanuel – God with us. Gen. 3 and Isaiah 7). Thus, Jesus, the Son of God came to this world to bring back the sheep (Adams, us) that had gone astray. It is His promise as it is vividly narrated in Psalms 91:14-16. “Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation." The Nativity of Emmanuel (God With us) Jesus made our salvation possible.


The curse that fell upon human beings persists even after The Incarnation took place. Why? The devil, the old serpent, the archenemy of man, the fallen angel, still is in existence. And the Satan consistently and cunningly traps even the faithful. Many who start with colorful ideas of morality and visions for Thy Kingdom; ends up in immoral traps of the devil and enjoy the worldly life in their Own Kingdoms; where there is everything except The Kingdom itself. This we see throughout the Christian sector. Many are half way through, as we read in the book of Revelations 3:15-16 “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” Alas! this lukewarm state of existence is apparently an acceptable norm even among Christians at present. It has been widely acknowledged that the end (worldly success) will justify the way; which is clearly an anathema in the eyes of God. 

Before ascending to His Father’s House, the Good Lord promised His second coming; a bonus for the world, (a last chance?) to save and to safeguard what and who belongs to Him. Acts 1:10-11 “ They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them." Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." It is bewildering to know that even at this 11th hour, there are Christians who overlook and disregard His second coming. But those who accept and acknowledge the second coming of Christ, the state of God with us indeed becomes a blessing; however the world’s perception and the reception of this fact might be. It varies from person to person, like those who received the talents. The faithful servants multiply the blessings, where as the ungodly squanders it. 

The world around us badly needs righteous people who stands for truth and promote its fruits. Only people who possess spirituality and devotion and those who live in the state of God with us could carry out this. St. John the Baptist is the perfect example. Luke 1: 66. “--For the Lord's hand was with him.” The harbinger of The Emmanuel suffered to pave the way for Him. The Baptist walked fearless in truth and in righteousness. But the reward that was offered to him by the world was similar to that was given to the One who came after him. John withstood the ungodly Herod and paid the ultimate price with his own life. This could be the reward for those who painstakingly promote the truth and its fruits. But the reward in waiting is definitely much higher, valuable and glorious than the probable suffering that one might undergo. “ For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it.” Mark 8:35

Let us receive The Emmanuel (God with us) at this season of great joy, when we celebrate the Divine Nativity; opening our hearts and minds to Him. And certainly JESUS IS THE REASON FOR THE SEASON.

The faithful members of the St. Ignatius Elias III Syrian Orthodox Church, Atlanta, Georgia and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Sunday School Association in North America join with my family and my humble self to wish all the esteemed readers of Shroro, a Blessed Christmas - 2005 and a Happy and prosperous New Year - 2006. May God Bless us all and the Holy Church.