By Lissy Maruthanakuzhy
Nagpur: A top journalist in a central Indian city says what has influenced him the most in life is the example of humility shown by Jesus Christ.
“Jesus chose to ride on a donkey because the animal was so humble, without any pretense,” Vijay Phansikar, chief editor of the Hitvada, a leading daily newspaper in Nagpur, the winter capital of Maharashtra state.
He was addressing an inter-religious prayer program the Archdiocese of Nagpur organized on December 21 to share the Christmas message,
“When God finds us humble, when we remove pride and prejudice from our heart, God will dwell in us. Jesus will ride on us,” asserted the editor, who pointed out that the story of Palm Sunday had influenced him immensely. “The teaching of Jesus on humility is the message that I would like to become and carry forward,” he added.
Welcoming the participants at the program in the Pastoral Centre, Archbishop Abraham Viruthakulangara of Nagpur said Christmas reminds people of God’s closeness to them. “In Jesus God has come closer to us and today we are his hands and feet to carry forward his message,” the prelate said. The archbishop described Christmas as a celebration of love that reminds people to love one another, get closer to each other, especially to those less privileged and marginalized.
Nitin Raut, a former minister who addressed the program, called on people to understand that the greatest religion is the religion of Jesus. “We experience his love and concern through his followers; through their yeomen services to humanity,” he added.
Professor Dr Gafoor Parekh called on Christians and Muslims to return to their Scriptures to find the source of peace “God is one and our destiny is one,” he said quoting the Quran.
Shanoor Mirza, principal of Tata Parsi Junior College, Nagpur, said the message of truth, humility and brotherhood that Christianity teaches is the need of the hour. She acknowledged that she continues to live the values she learned while studying at a convent school in Ajmer, Rajasthan. “Those values are the gifts of the education I received from the missionaries,” she added.
The two-hour program included carol singing by students of Pilar Niletan, a seminary, and a skit on Christmas story by the candidates of the Daughters of St Paul.
Archdiocesan public relations officer Fr Lijo Thomas presented a video presentation on the first Christmas day.