It’s so inspiring to reflect how these sacred spiritual holidays
that are traditionally celebrated throughout the year,
these remind us of a very important, a very great truth,
and that is this:
even though as we know the spiritual path depends
on our own efforts to change,
our own efforts to align our consciousness with the divine,
still, our own imperfect efforts,
these are constantly supported by the freely given grace of God.
That’s the message of these holidays, these sacred observances.
Because surely the greatest way,
the greatest way in which that grace manifests to humanity
is in the divine incarnations
through which that infinite cosmic Lord of all creation
descends from time to time in a personal form upon this earth.
Jesus Christ, Bhagavan Krishna, the other great Masters
who guard and guide the spiritual destiny of our world
— such are the divine ones who incarnate when there’s a real need,
when there’s a great need among God’s children
for a special dispensation, you might say,
and a special outpouring of light and uplifting spiritual consciousness.
We need that so that it can infuse our hearts and our minds
with new courage, with new strength
that we need to overcome the influence of ignorance, of evil, of delusion.
So these are the saviors and redeemers of mankind,
and their help and their loving aid
is especially felt, it’s especially accessible
to all of us during these spiritually auspicious times of the year
such as Christmas or Easter or Krishna Janmashtami;
same as on the birth and mahasamadhi anniversaries
of all the avatars and illumined saints.
So looking back on the year that we’re just now concluding,
at least in terms of the general trend of outer events,
we can certainly say that that light and that help is so much needed.
You agree?
Nod your heads.
So today, for all who are still feeling or are feeling distressed and worried
by the problems and the challenges that this year has brought,
which are still very much with us,
let’s take the opportunity today, right now,
to step back to get a broader, a more comforting perspective.
Right now, in this gathering,
consciously step back from the troubles of the world
and change your consciousness.
Change your consciousness.
Remember those beautiful words of Jesus Christ.
He knew, and the world has always gone through
different troubles, different crises.
It just repeats in cycle after cycle.
So Jesus said, “In the world ye shall have tribulations,
but be of good cheer—”
be of good cheer, “for I have overcome the world.”
And as we know, Christmas is all about those tidings of comfort and joy.
So in that spirit let’s immerse ourselves
again, in that outpouring of divine grace,
of divine love, of divine help, and courage
that flows to us from the higher realms during this holy season.
To put us in that consciousness, let me just read
from the majestic Bible verses about the birth of Jesus.
And close your eyes and just listen to these words
which are so familiar to most of us:
“And it came to pass, in those days,
that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus
that all the world should be taxed.
And all went to be taxed everyone unto his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee out of the city of Nazareth into Judea,
into the city of David which is called Bethlehem,
to be taxed with Mary, his espoused wife
who was great with child.
And so it was that while they were there,
she brought forth her firstborn son
and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger
because there was no room for them at the inn.
And there were in that same country shepherds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their flocks by night.
And lo! the angel of the Lord came upon them
and the glory of the lord shone round about them,
and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them ‘fear not,
for behold I bring you tidings of great joy
which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a savior,
which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign to you:
you shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.’
and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host
praising God, saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace and goodwill toward men.’ ”
Our guru, Paramahansa Yogananda, in his commentary on the gospels,
the commentary on the teachings of Jesus, he explained about this.
And he said that God and his heavenly hosts
celebrate the earthly incarnations of the great ones,
those whose lives are ordained to influence the destiny of man.
And that was the celestial rejoicing,
the glory and the singing and the angelic visitation
at the advent of Jesus’ birth that was seen by the shepherds.
But our Guru went on to say,
and this is what is so important for us now, today, in this season.
He said that those celestial observances,
those divine celebrations at the incarnation of the divine ones,
not only Jesus but, as I said, all of the divine ones
who have been sent by God to bring that dispensation of light
and help and divine joy.
When such a one incarnates
and that divine celebration is going on in the heavenly realms,
it’s not only at the first time that they were born,
but during the succeeding celebrations year-by-year of those anniversaries.
So here’s what our Guru said about that, he said,
“Each year at Christmas time there are stronger than usual vibrations
of Christ-love and joy that emanate to earth from the heavenly realms.
The ether becomes filled with that Infinite Light
that shone on earth when Jesus was born.”
You see that beautiful
again, majestic description that we know from the Bible,
that wasn’t just a historical occurrence:
it’s happening right now, it’s happening today.
“The ether becomes filled
with the Infinite Light that shone on earth when Jesus was born.
And those persons who are in tune
through devotion and deep meditation
feel in a wondrously tangible way
the transforming vibrations of the omnipresent consciousness
that was in Christ Jesus.
That’s what I want us to feel today,
that’s what we need to recharge, our “spiritual batteries”
— our bodies, minds, and souls —
against the downward pulling forces
that we’ve all been confronted with in this year.
Feel those vibrations, feel that joy, feel that light.