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God is the creator of this world. God created this wonderful world in all it’s richness, diversity and order, because of His infinite love for us. Therefore we should love the whole of God's creation. In the book of Genesis it is recorded how God created this world, by the power of his Word. Let us read some of those passages in the Holy Bible.
Day and Night
Water and Sky
Earth and Trees
Sun, Moon and the Star
Birds and fish
The living creatures and man
From the above passages in the book of Genesis in the Holy Bible we can understand that God created the world in six days. Psalm 104 of the Holy Bible clearly tells us that all the creations in the world are the work of God. When God created the world he was very much concerned about the needs of human beings and man can find in God’s creation whatever is necessary for him for his day to day life. God gave him also a beautiful environment. Man is the summit of the Creators work. Let us be determined always to appreciate God’s creations. Let us praise and thank God for the wonderful gift of creation that He has given to us.
1. God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over it.
2. God said’ See I have given you every plant yielding seeds and every tree with seed in its fruit you shall have them for food.
3. The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to till it and keep it.
4. Out of all the things that God created man is the summit of the creators work filled with goodness and love; let us protect our human dignity.
5. Birds of the air flying in the sky and butterflies of beautiful hues flutter their wings and colourful fish swim in the water. All these add beauty to God’s wonderful creation. Yes, we thank thee Lord for everything and we care and preserve your glorious creation.
6. Water generates electricity, water in the sea gives us salt, that gives flavor to our foods. Medicinal plants supply us with medicine for our sicknesses and the good God has blessed us abundantly through his creation.
7. Rivers, lakes, streams and waterfalls give us water to make furtile the farms and gardens. Let us keep the water clean and pure for drinking, bathing and washing.
8. Let us collect the waste matter that decays, separate it from nondecaying matter and make manuré for our home gardens.
9. Let us grow flowers, vegetables and fruit trees and make our home school and church gardens colourful and pleasant to live in.
10. Father, Mother, Brother and Sister, let all of us unite, care for and protect the environment to make this world more beautiful.
Now let us see what God said to our first parents, Adam and Eve.
The above scripture passage show us some of the responsibilities that God gave man because God loves him so much.
1. To beget children
2. To spread all over the earth.
3. Have dominion over the fish of the sea and birds of the air to look after them for their human needs.
4. To till the earth
5. To use the fruits of the earth for their food
God made man the master of the earth to care to protect and to develop the earth, so that he can make use of it. That is our responsibility. But today man has been unable to protect God’s creation.
Eg: Pollution of environment, destruction of forests use of polythene, pollution of air and water, not having a proper and regular way of putting away the garbage and waste matter. It is very necessary to protect and develop the natural resources which God, has placed in the earth. These are the free gifts that we have received from God. Let us give thanks to God, the creator of so many various things for the use of man.
I was born in a laboratory many years ago. I did not come out of a mother’s womb to see the light of this world. I have neither parents nor brothers nor sisters. I was made by some clever group of engineers. People use me for their various needs, holding responsibilities in Medical Science and Bio Science, deflating bombs, going to the moon and going to the places where man cannot reach and to gather information. These are some of the duties that I have to perform. But of these works are done according to my own decision. I am able to act according to the data installed in me by human beings. Though I perform a lot of wonderful acts. I cannot be compared to a human being. I have no mind, no intelligence; neither do I have a heart. Yet, man is not like me. Man is one of God’s noblest creations. He is a sublime being. I am nothing compared with man. Man is a living being. He received that life by the divine breath of God. I am an instrument activated by others. I who spoke to you so far is a Robot.
Why man’s dignity is greater than any of the other creations
1. Likeness to God’s image
God created man in His own image and likeness. Only man can have partnership in God's divine life. God gave man authority over the whole of created things. Man can discover the earth explore it, make use of it; care for it and develop it. Only man has partnership with God in creating. From all these we can see that man is above and greater than all other created things.
2. Then God formed man and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.
Man who was formed from the dust of the earth, became a living being, because God breathed His breath of life into man. God did not do this when He created animals. Hence, man is highest of God's creations.
3. God proclaiming that the day man was created was “ very good”
God who said, "it was good", after creating all the other creations, said " it was very good " after creating man. God's creation became complete after He had created man. This shows that man has dominion over all other creations, and all these were created for the benefit of man.
4. Man gave a name to all the beasts
It was the man who gave a name to all the beasts and birds of every kind. Through this, it shows that man has power over all the animals, birds and all that God created.
Diversity of man and respecting each other
Man is the summit of the Creator’s work. We are all not the same. Each one is unique. Each one's talents, likes and dislikes, capabilities, colour of the skin, shape and everything is different. In our country, we have four or more nationalities; Sinhala, Tamil, Muslims and Burghers. They belong to four different religions, Buddhist, Hindus, Islam, Catholic, Christians and others. Our level of intelligence is different. We are different as males and females. Besides, our capabilities are different and varied. The differences between those capabilities are shown in the pictures below.
According to God’s plan the whole human race displays various types of talents and capabilities. Because of this quality the value of God’s creation is increased. We need each others’ assistance. We all have God’s image and likeness within us. Hence we should respect each other. Whether we are male or female in that difference we have to respect each other. Whether we belong to different nationalties or different religions or whether we speak different languages we must respect each other and live in peace and harmony with each other.
Peter : We can hear the cry of a baby.
Anthony : Whose sound is it?
Mother Mary : I will tell you whose sound it is. One day I was in my home when the Angel Gabriel came to me" sent by God.'
Angel : “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you”
Mother Mary : I was much troubled then ……
Angel : “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God and now you will conceive in your womb and bear a Son, and you will name him Jesus”
Mother Mary : How can this be, since I am a virgin?
Angel : “The Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the Most high will overshadow you; Therefore the child to be born will be holy; He will be called Son of God. And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a Son and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren. For nothing is impossible for God.”
Mother Mary: “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” So I bowed my head to the will of God.
Peter : So, was Joseph willing to accept you?
Mother Mary: No, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said to him that I have conceived a child by the power of the Holy Spirit. I will bear a Son and you are to name him ‘Jesus’, for he will save his people from their sins. All this has taken place to fulfill what has been said by the prophet Isaiah’ He also bowed his head to the will of God.
Anthony : Then, where was Jesus born?
Mother Mary : That’s a long story. In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the people in his kingdom should be registered.
Drum beaters: Listen! Listen! Emperor Augustus has issued a decree to all his people, all of you people go to your, birth place and get yourself registered for the Census.
Mother Mary: Because Joseph and I were descendants of David, we went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea to the city of David, called Bethlehem When we were there it was time for me to deliver the baby. It was getting dark. Joseph went about looking for a place for the two of us to stay the night
Joseph : "Is it possible for the two of us to stay the night here?"
The Inn keeper : I do not think that there is room in any of the inns in this city. Your wife seems to be in a very serious condition. If you like, you can spend the night in our stable.
Joseph : Thank you very much.'
Peter : So did you give birth to your baby in a stable?
Mother Mary: Yes, I bowed my head to the will of God and gave birth to my first born Son and wrapped him in bands of cloth and laid him in a manger. In that region there were shepherds living in the fields keeping watch over their flocks by night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them.
Angel : “Do not be afraid; for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all people. To you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour who is the Messiah, the Lord. There will be a sign for you, you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth lying in a manger.
A shepherd : There, the angels are singing and praising God. Let us go at once now itself to Bethlehem to worship him.
Anthony : So, did only the shepherds come to see Baby Jesus?
Mother Mary: No, three wise men came from the East for they have seen a star in the sky. They came to Jerusalem and went to king Herod’s palace.
The wise men : “Where is the child who has been born, king of the Jews? We saw his star in the eastern sky and came to worship him”'
King Herod : “ I do not know anything about this. I will see about it.(He told the kings attendants) “Ask all the chief priests and scribes to gather together”.
Chief Priest : “Your Majesty, why did you call us?
King Herod : “Where is Jesus born? “
Chief Priest : Your Majesty, he is born in Bethlehem in Judea.
King Herod : “How do you know it?”
A Chief Priest : “It is written in the book of the Prophets”
King Herod : (He called the three wise men secretly) Go and find out about the child and let me know about him. I too must go and pay homage to him.
The first wise man : “There’s the star! that we saw in the East. It stopped over the manger.”
The second wise man : “Let us go with our gifts and pay homage to him.” They opened their treasure chests and offered him gold, frankincense and myrrh'
Anthony : “Did the three kings go and tell king Herod about the child? ”
Mother Mary : “No, In a dream God told them not to go to Herod, but to go to their country on a different route.
Peter and Anthony : We too like always to do God’s will like you, dear Mother Mary.
Mother Mary : I will pray for you before God, so that you will be able to do God’s will always.
Jesus is named
Jesus is presented in the Temple
The above Bible passages present some of the Jews’ religious and national customs.
✴ Circumcision on the eight day.
✴ Naming of the child.
✴ Purification rite
✴ Offering the first born child to the Lord.
Mary and Joseph fulfilled all the religious and National customs of the Jewish people.
In society today many people do not respect the religious and national customs. The Holy Family gives us an example of being faithful to those customs. The Infant Jesus was circumcised after eight days of his birth. The name ‘Jesus’ given by the angel was given to the baby. According to the law of Moses when the time came for the purification, the infant Jesus was taken to the temple of Jerusalem by Mary and Joseph.
From this we can understand that we too must obey and respect the religious and national customs of our country.
Read Luke 2:1-24 and Mathew 2:1-12 and the christmas play and write the answers
Across
1. Cousin of Mary's name is ..........
5. This is made in Catholic homes during christmas season
6. Angel Gabriel announced to ...................
7. Emperor used this .......... to announce the
9. On the 25th December we celebrate .....................
10. A prophet who announced the birth of Jesus
Down
2. The city that Jesus was born
3. The genealogy that Joseph belong to ...........................
4. The song of praise was sung by ................
5. The wise men offered to Jesus
7. The name of the emperor who ordered the census
8. The place where the wise men went
9. The one who brings gifts to the children on Christmas day
Child Jesus going to the Temple of Jeruselam
Every year the parents of Jesus, went to Jerusalem for the festival Passover, according to the custom of the Jews. And when Jesus was twelve years old they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was over and they started to return, the child Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
Then they started to look for him among their relatives and friends. When they did not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to search for him. After three days they found him in the temple sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.
Mother Mary : “ Child, why have you treated us like this? Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety”
Child Jesus : “Why were you searching for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father’s house?"
But they did not understand what he said to them. His mother treasured all these things in her heart.
Jesus, the Son of God came to this world to fulfill God’s plan of Salvation. Even from his childhood he was always ready to fulfill God’s will. We, the children of God, have received an invitation to make God known to the people of the world. In response to that invitation we are all bound to make God known to the world even from our childhood. To do this we have to follow the example of the child Jesus
Mary and Joseph who went in search of the child Jesus who stayed behind in the temple of Jerusalem gave a good example to the parents that they should be more alert about their children.
The growth of Jesus
St. Luke in his Gospal tell's us how Jesus grew in his childhood
St. Luke tells us that from his early childhood Jesus did God’s will and he increased in wisdom and grace. As a child he was in the temple sitting among the teachers listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and at his answers. From all these incidents we can understand how Jesus grew in wisdom and grace. Though he was the Son of God, Jesus was always obedient to his parents, and helped them in their daily tasks in the house. So he grew in physical strength. Jesus together with his parents, Mary and Joseph prayed to his heavenly Father and was always busy with religious duties. eg. The parents of Jesus took him to the temple of Jerusalem to be offered to God. When Jesus was twelve years old they took him to the temple of Jerusalem for the Passover festival. Jesus helped his parents and others and always respected the laws of the society. So everybody was pleased with him. So, as St. Luke says, Jesus increased in favour with God and men. St. Luke has summed up Jesus' personality development in that sentence; that Jesus increased in wisdom and in
years and in divine and human favour. Like Jesus we too must grow in personality. We must grow mentally, physically, spiritually and socially. To grow mentally we must study well and read good books and magazine and try to get information from various sources and be knowledgeable and intelligent. To be physically strong we must eat nourishing food, do physical exercises and play games and also take rest. To grow spiritually we must spend sometime with God daily in prayer; perform religious exercises. We must participate in the Holy Mass on Sundays. We can grow socially when we live in harmony with everybody at home, in school, in the parish and in the village or town. Taking the Child Jesus as our example let us try to help your parents at home, take part in Sramadana and other common work in school and in the village, and participate in the work of the parish. Doing things in whatever way, we can grow socially. Then we, like Jesus will increase in mind and body, and spiritually and socially.
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