Panaji: Archbishop of Goa and Daman Fr Filipe Neri Ferrao on Friday said “we tend to think less generously of people or groups whom we are not familiar with or whom we perceive to be different from us or even oppose to us.”
The Archbishop was addressing customary reception hosted by the Church on the occasion of Christmas here.
“It’s a time when we open ourselves to God’s dream for us. God’s dream becomes our dream when we bring joy, peace, forgiveness and service to all and work together to built a civilization of love,” Fr Ferrao said in his ten minute long address which was attended by whose who from political and business circles of Goa.
“For this we must develop more positive perception of other people and groups. We tend to think less generously of people or groups whom we are not familiar with or whom we perceive to be different from us or even oppose to us,” the Archbishop said.
“Making God’s dream our own reverses this process helping us consciously to think better about the same people and the group. Partaking in God’s dream we are challenge to open horizon of our mind and embrace people whom we are naturally not inclined to love like poor and downtrodden for example,” he said.
Referring to the concept of Sangam (confluence) as mentioned in Hindu scriptures, Fr Ferrao said “We can take the image of Sangam, a point of confluence of two rivers which is regarded as sacred by our Hindu brethren since ancient times.”
“Humanity reaches a Sangam with the divine in Jesus Christ and Christmas is a celebration of divine Sangam of the human and divine quest for each other,” he said.
Archbishop said Christmas is a feast that transcends religious affiliations. “Many people who are not followers of Christ are seen donning St Claus caps doing Christmas shopping, merry making and even decorating their homes with Christmas trees and lights,” he pointed out.
“Actually doing this has no meaning if one does not know what Christmas is all about. It is with this in mind I invite your heart and mind to God by whichever name you may call him,” he added.
“May we lead our lives along the path of Samvedana and Karuna and enable our lives to lead according to profound values enshrines in our ethos of Indian civilization,” the Archbishop said.
“We all need open mind and large heart today. Such openness will facilitate to enable us to be witnesses of divine,” he added.
