Christians from all over the world celebrate Christmas, as the birthday of Jesus Christ.There are many explanations given to the meaning and purpose of Christ’s birth. St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuit order, contemplates on the birth of Jesus in this way. According to his vision, God the Father looks down from heaven and is sad and heart-broken to see the Earth, His most beloved creation being slowly destroyed by sin. He, then, decides to send his only son Jesus to bring order in the world with His message of love and forgiveness — to bring peace and harmony in the hearts of men.

The Bible says: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish.” (John 3: 16). A similar idea is found in the Bhagwad Gita when Lord Krishna says to Arjuna: “Whenever Dharma withers away and Adharma prevails, I generate myself; for the protection of the good, for the destruction of the evil-doers, for the restoration of Dharma I come into being age after age.’ (Bhagawat Gita 4: 7-8).

The central message of Jesus is the establishment of the Kingdom of God.

He began his work by declaring: “The Kingdom of God is near. Turn away from your sins and believe in the Good News” (Mathew: 1:4). The only prayer he taught is called the Lord’s Prayer the opening words of which are: “Our Father who art in heaven, holy be thy name; thy kingdom come, thou will be done on earth as it is heaven….”