Christmas Crib 2025 | Dominican Fathers | St. Thomas Priory | Orlim | Goa скачать в хорошем качестве

Christmas Crib 2025 | Dominican Fathers | St. Thomas Priory | Orlim | Goa

Blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year to all, from the Dominican Priory of St Thomas Aquinas, Orlim, Goa 🌟 “The rising sun from heaven has come to us, to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide us into the path of peace.” From the Book of Genesis to the Book of Revelation, Sacred Scripture repeatedly uses solar imagery to reveal Christ as the true Light of the world. Inspired by this biblical vision, this year’s Christmas crib reflects the theme: “The Rising Sun has come to visit us.” At the heart of the crib is the Bethlehem event, placed within a radiant Sun whose golden rays stretch across four sections, symbolizing today’s world—broken and wounded by natural and man-made disasters, war, socio-economic injustice, and religious intolerance. 🔹 First Section – Suffering Creation: Barren landscapes, dry trees, skeletal remains, and ravaged mountains portray the pain caused by greed and neglect. In this suffering world, the Babe of Bethlehem does not remove pain instantly but enters it silently, assuring us that no darkness is deeper than His light. 🔹 Second Section – The Reality of War: Barricades, tanks, wounded soldiers, explosions, and fear reveal the harsh truth of conflict. Jesus is born in Bethlehem—traditionally linked to a god of war—signifying that God enters history not after violence ends, but right where fear already exists. Peace begins when hardened hearts are renewed. 🔹 Third Section – Socio-Economic Injustice: Skyscrapers stand against slums, abundance against scarcity. In the humble manger, God stands with the poor, the excluded, and the forgotten—affirming their dignity and challenging unjust structures that divide humanity. 🔹 Fourth Section – Religious Intolerance: Burnt churches, protests, fear, and insecurity reflect fanaticism rooted in fear and wounded identity. Christmas proclaims fearless love, where the cave of Bethlehem remains open to all, and the Magi find the true Light by following it. If we have received the rays of the Sun of Justice, Christ calls us to become healers, bearers of light, and instruments of peace— to set the captives free. Christmas is more than an exchange of gifts. It celebrates the greatest miracle: God becoming vulnerable out of love. May Christ, the Rising Sun, illuminate our lives, liberate humanity from darkness and injustice, guide us on the path of peace, and inspire us to share hope, love, joy, and light with the world. ✨ Merry Christmas & a Hope-filled New Year! ✨ Videography : Br Nitesh Paul OP Fr Stalin OP Fr Xavier Dias OP Editing : Fr Xavier Dias OP ‪@RootsandRadiancewithxavi‬