Truth of Christmas

Christmas, for most, is a season of lights, music, and festivity. Yet beneath the glitter lies a profound theological truth, that involves the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ, foretold more than seven centuries before His arrival. The angelic proclamation of “good tidings of great joy” and “peace on earth, goodwill toward men” was never meant as ornamental poetry. It was, and remains, a radical declaration of reconciliation-an invitation to reimagine human relationships through mercy, justice, and compassion. In Nagaland, this message continues to resonate deeply. Sermons, civic greetings, and public addresses during December are infused with reminders of forgiveness, unity, and moral renewal. Families gather around shared meals, churches organize prayer services, and communities emphasize reconciliation. Even amid the bustle of concerts, crowded markets, and the exchange of gifts, the undercurrent of peace and goodwill remains unmistakable. The challenge, however, is whether this message is truly lived out-or merely spoken as seasonal rhetoric. The danger of Christmas in the modern age is its reduction to ritual and ornament. Greetings of “peace” and “goodwill” risk becoming hollow if they are not embodied in action. These are not passive words; they are actionable imperatives. Peace demands the courage to forgive, to bridge divides, and to resist cycles of resentment. Goodwill requires generosity that extends beyond material gifts, reaching into empathy, fairness, and care for the marginalized. Both are inseparable from the truth of Christ the Redeemer, whose birth was not simply a historical event but a moral summons to humanity. Nagaland’s Christian identity makes this reflection particularly urgent. In a region where faith is woven into public life, Christmas ought to be more than a festival borrowed from pagan calendars or reduced to consumer spectacle. It should be reclaimed as a calendar of conscience-a reminder that reconciliation is not seasonal but perennial. The prophetic voice that announced Christ’s birth calls believers to embody peace and goodwill as enduring commitments, not temporary sentiments. This is especially relevant in the Northeast, where communities often grapple with ethnic divisions, political tensions, and social inequities. To invoke Christmas without practicing its radical ethic risks hypocrisy. The angelic proclamation was not addressed to a select few but to “all men”-a universal call that transcends tribe, denomination, and social class. In this sense, Christmas is not merely about remembering a past event but about enacting a present responsibility. The deeper meaning of Christmas lies in its insistence that festivity must be linked to mercy, justice, and compassion. The lights and carols are beautiful, but they must illuminate a path toward reconciliation. The gifts exchanged are meaningful, but they must symbolize generosity that extends to the poor, the forgotten, and the estranged. The gatherings are joyful, but they must nurture unity that outlasts the season. As Nagaland celebrates Christmas, the challenge is clear, that it has to move beyond ritual into renewal. Peace and goodwill must not remain decorative phrases but lived realities. Only then will the celebration honor the prophecy spoken centuries before Christ’s birth and fulfill its radical promise of reconciliation.