The Real Joy of Christmas

Christmas should be a happy time for everyone, and all the beautiful creatures should share in the Blessing. The coming of the Master, who became known upon the Earth as Jesus Christ through a misunderstanding of the Teachings which He gave, was to herald a Message full of delightful news. It was to tell everyone who was seeking to know GOD, how greatly the FATHER-MOTHER loved all His Children, and desired them to know it, and rejoice and be glad in that knowledge. For to be loved, even upon the Earth-planes, by another, is a beautiful thing. It generates a lovely atmosphere around and within us; and it calls forth from our heart, which is the chalice of Love, a corresponding magnetic stream.

If that be so, then to be loved of the FATHER-MOTHER so greatly as to be named His Beloved Children, should surely generate a lovely atmosphere about us and within us, calling forth all the Love of our Being in response to the Divine Love, and making us partake of the very nature of the beautiful attitude and expression which are given us from the FATHER-MOTHER.

If all men and women who believe in the events associated with Christmas, realised that at that time there was given to the World a testimony of the Love of the FATHER-MOTHER, and received that testimony to Divinely profit by it, then everything upon the Earth would become changed for the better; war and every form of evil created by wrong desire, false ambition, jealousy, envy, and greed, hatred and self-regard, would all pass away, and in their place Love would reign, and its triumph would be revealed in beautiful harmony amongst Peoples, Nations, and Races, and expressed through most lovely ministries rendered one to another. And by means of those ministries all cruelties and even unkindness in every form towards the creatures would cease; indeed, the creatures would be regarded as the little Children in spiritual estate in the great household of the FATHER-MOTHER.

You will remember that in the New Testament account of the Birth of the Master, it is recorded that the home in which that Birth took place belonged to the creatures, that it was supposed to be a byre, and that the cradle of the Child was a manger. Though the statement in the New Testament is more imaginary than real, and is very far from the Truth, yet in His coming the Master had for part of His Mission, the restoration to their true place in the Planet’s Life, of all the gentle creatures. For they were to share in the Redemption, and find lovely conditions in which to live their child-life, graze and gambol, and know a little of the joy of Life.

It is remarkable that so many can believe that the Master became the Redeemer of the World, and in His coming was honoured by the presence of the creatures, and yet fail to realise and even to recognise, the claims of the creatures. Indeed, the action of the vast multitudes of religious men and women who believe that the Master so came into this World, reveals the unreality of their belief and the negation of compassion and pity. Thousands of these religious people attach great importance to the festivities of Christmas, and love to see erected in their Churches what are called the Crèches. Now, the Crèche represents the events of the Birth of the Master, as these are supposed to be recorded in the New Testament. There is Mary with the Babe, and Joseph at hand, and all around are the creatures. In some Churches an elaborate Crèche is presented with oxen, calves, sheep, goats, rabbits, and even deer, and the ass and the mule, and even birds – all sharing in the new-born Joy, and Angels attending to the Holy Family, and the coming of the three Magians with their Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, to lay at the feet of the New-born, Heaven-sent, Redeemer King.

In many places I have looked at such Crèches, and witnessed the adoring attitude of both men and women who evidently accept the presentation as a true picture of the Incarnation. Yet the very Churches that build up such outward spectacles, with which to attract and influence their adherents, believe and teach that most of those creatures are born to be the victims of man’s desires, as the good gifts of the FATHER-MOTHER – a provision supposed to be necessary for the sustenance of the human body. Is it not dreadful to think that mingling with wonderful songs of the Angelic Hosts, there should be heard the woeful cries of millions of creatures as these are compelled by man in his ignorance and lovelessness, to lay down their lives in order to provide the wherewithal for the celebration of a Festival so joyful and blessed and redemptive? The tragic unreality of professed Christian Beliefs revealed in such actions, makes the Angels weep; and surely we also would weep and share their sorrow over the strange conduct of so many of the FATHER-MOTHER’s sons and daughters.

I would have you know the real Joy of Christmas, and how that Joy is the Divine Bloom of Love – Love for everyone and affection expressed towards all creatures. For the real Christmas for you is the Birth of the most Blessed States of Jesus Christ, within the Hostel of your own Being. For the States of Jesus Christ, inherited and realised by you, would indeed testify that you are none other than a Son or Daughter of the Highest. And in that state of Love, Compassion and Pity, you might well hear the Angels sing their songs of Joy over the event, and have glimpses of the Glory shed in the Message of the Angel of the Lord.

From the Herald of the Cross Vol. 13, by John Todd Ferrier, pp 240-244.
© The Order of the Cross.

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