Dear Beloved in Christ,

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Merry Christmas & A Happy New Year 2021!!

At the outset, I would like to thank you for your kind support and guidance provided to me when I had donned the mantle as the Vicar of this parish and for the continued love and affection shown towards me and to one another. We were blessed during this tumultuous period with the mighty power which God have had showered on us thus surrounding us and keeping us safe and sound while allowing us to grow in spirit.

This is the season of the year where we must thank God for the mercy and compassion that he had heaped on us. Year 2020 had been a tough period for many of us and we have seen sufferings and problems around us which were unheard before. I thank God for his mercy which had shined on us keeping us healthy and sound in this challenging period. Now that this is Christmas – New Year period, I encourage you to look back and reflect upon the year passing by and prepare to enter the new year with a resolution to address any shortcomings and grow more in the Love of God. In St. Luke 2:7, we read: “And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” We can see that for the parents of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, it was difficult to find a place – a good room to stay - and had to accommodate the child in the resources available locally – a manger. Often, we also come across similar situations where we find it difficult to care for the Christ born in our heart due to the lack of resources - a clear peaceful mind, a thankful heart, a healthy family, clear pay-checks, personal comforts  like a good house, vehicle and above all time for worship.

It is imperative and worthwhile to remember that as mentioned in St. Mathew 2:1, it is in this place – the Manger where they were staying - where the three wisemen came to worship infant Jesus and offered him the precious gifts. “Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Thus it is evident that we need not have all the worldly comfort to enjoy the precious jewels - the goodness of this world which are: Joy, Peace and Prosperity. When we admire and organize our resources, these gifts will reach us  just like how the precious gifts came to the child born in the humble manger because the King is born within your heart now.

Beloved friend, on this occasion, I thank you vehemently for your kind support and services provided to our parish and to others in the name of Christ for the bible in St. Mathew 25:40 says: “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” I encourage you and call upon you to continue these good activities - small or big - and proclaim God’s love to one another. In this world, the social and economic gap between the privileged and less privileged is increasing day by day. Riches, worldly comforts, family backgrounds, education etc. should not be the divisive factor instead it should serve as ways and means for many good deeds that we can do for the rest of us. If you find yourself unable to support in a particular situation, then nothing can stop you from encouraging one another to do it. Such actions of ours will shed our Lord’s light on them and they will glorify God in your name. So in this season, I call upon you to grow in love and compassion and become the light of God to the ones in your surroundings just as how God is carrying us in this world.

At St. Elias Syrian Orthodox Simhasana Church, we have a tremendous potential to grow more in the coming days, to offer more services to the downtrodden and to the broken ones. This is our duty to God and each one of us should pray that may god enable us to render these services and also allow us to grow in communion with God and with each other. We will continue to remember and uphold you and your family in our prayers. May the peace and happiness from God be with you always.

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Sincerely in Christ, with love,

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Fr. Gems Jacob Mathew