SHILLONG: It might be a flicker in the time of raging violence and bigotry but hope for peace and harmony still lights up a thousand lives in Christmas.
Archbishop Dominic Jala referred to this ray of hope when asked to comment on fringe groups threatening to disrupt the festive fervor in different states. The Archbishop said fanatics will be there but the majority will choose peace and harmony.
“We would like to see that the forces of good are stronger than the forces of evil. Certainly, the peace of Christmas is to pray about all the people who misunderstand the message of Jesus who want to twist it to some other way,” he told The Shillong Times.
The Archbishop said Christmas gives people the opportunity to understand and experience the gift that God has given to all.
“What impresses me is that people come to the church and spend time in prayers, especially in these nine days’ preparation for Christmas.
What is important is that there are people who put their lives right again during Christmas,” he said and added that he did not think people are only after materialistic things.
Meanwhile, educationist MPR Lyngdoh said Christmas is the time for peace, joy, sharing of love with one another, especially the poor and the needy.
Stating that the secular fabric of India should not be disturbed, Lyngdoh said that the people in the country have the right to worship and the country is a pluralistic country.
