Christmas is a feast of solidarity with the poor, says Bishop in Belagavi
Christmas is a feast of solidarity with the poor, says Bishop in Belagavi
A Belagavi bishop calls for Christmas to be a time of justice and mercy by walking with the poor and rediscovering solidarity.
Belagavi witnessed a Christmas message focused on solidarity with the poor, calling Christmas a feast of hope, poverty and solidarity with those who are marginalized. The bishop urged believers to work for justice and to build a society rooted in mercy, moving beyond mere festive celebrations.
'Let us encounter Christ in their faces, listen to their stories, share their struggles and affirm their God-given dignity,' he said, adding that walking with the poor helps rediscover the true meaning of Christmas and the joy that comes with genuine solidarity.
He urged the faithful to search for the poor not as benefactors alone but as fellow pilgrims during this season. 'The mystery of Christmas reveals a God who chose poverty — born in a manger, laid in a humble crib — because Christ made Himself poor for the sake of humanity, so that all might become rich in love, dignity and hope,' he stated, prompting reflection on the stark realities of inequality, conflict and indifference in today’s world.
The bishop highlighted that the Christmas story centers on the poor, noting it was to shepherds that the Good News was first announced and that God continues to dwell among the poor. He invoked the biblical line, 'For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor,' as a call to action for all sections of society.
'We hope this Christmas inspires individuals, communities and institutions to stand with the poor,' he concluded, urging acts of mercy, hospitality and justice that extend beyond lights and gifts to tangible support for those in need.
