During a walk in the forest, little Priya and her father were crossing a rivulet. Priya’s dad said: “Hold my hand, dear, lest you fall.” Priya cried: “No, daddy! You hold my hand!” Puzzled, her dad asked: “What’s the difference?” Priya said: “If I hold your hand and something happens, I might let go of your hand. But if you hold my hand, I’m sure you’ll never let go of me.”
In the four week run-up to Christmas called “Advent”, Christians prepare for Christ’s coming with special Bible readings. Prominent among the symbols that surface is that of hands. God never works singlehandedly; but invites people to give God a hand, so to say, to bring to fruition God’s plans. Two weeks from now we’ll wish each other “Merry Christmas” hoping that Christmas be full of fun and frolic. I fully agree that Christmas should be a joyful feast. Yet, I sometimes wish friends a “Mary Christmas”, purposefully putting the spotlight on Mary, mother of Jesus.
Mary is invited to cooperate with God when Angel Gabriel seeks her consent to conceive and give birth to Jesus. Sur-prised, Mary asks: “How can this be, sin-ce I am a virgin?” The angel says: “The holy spirit will come upon you; and the child to be born will be called son of God. Nothing is impossible with God.” Promptly putting her hand into God’s hands, Mary says: “I am God’s handmaid; let it be with me according to God’s word.”
Today, spend some moments becoming aware of the thousand things you do with your hands. Be filled with happiness. Fold your hands in grateful “Namaste” and ask God to hold your hand. With your hand held by the Uparwalla, the one above, you will gain the upper hand in life.
