Bishop's Christmas Message 2020

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This crèche was part of the Christmas decorations at St. Jude Maronite Catholic Church last year.

Greetings of Christ’s peace!

We approach the celebration of Christmas this year in very unusual circumstances. Our traditional family and community holiday gatherings are restricted, attendance at Holy Mass curtailed and many remain isolated in their homes for fear of the coronavirus. For many months, we have lived with the darkness of a pandemic that drastically changed our daily lives.

Yet the spirit of the season has not been lost. Driving around, we see people continue to decorate our churches, homes, stores and streets with colorful lights, tinsel, ornaments and Nativity scenes. Radios and televisions continue to play the Christmas songs we know so well. People still shop in stores and malls to get some things so they can give or exchange gifts to celebrate the feast. Perhaps even more encouraging during this particular Christmas season, most people continue to wear masks while shopping to protect the lives of strangers and loved ones alike.

So too for us as Catholics, the true meaning of the season cannot be lost. The heart of that spirit is Christ, the Light of the world (John 8:12. Yes, we have been living in a pandemic darkness, but that has not dimmed the Light that Christ brings. He strengthens us with the gift of hope that reminds us of the marvelous promises God has made to those who depend on him.

Christ continues to be the source of our strength, endurance and life. In his infinite love, God sent Christ, the Emmanuel who is “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14) to strengthen our faith in the Divine Son who became man for us except for sin and for our salvation. His loving and saving presence assures us we are not alone. He comes to heal our afflictions, calm our anxieties and give us hope for better days, which the new year may bring.

The Light of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is not just for ourselves. Christmas gives us the opportunity to share the Light of Christ with others. We are reminded of his teaching that it is in giving that we receive. During this time, charity, outreach, love for others is the gift we can share so that our blessings can be a blessing to our brothers and sisters especially most in need.

Christmas provides us the opportunity to connect more intimately with God and with each other through our faith, by living in hope and sharing our love. Social distancing does not mean we think only of ourselves or ignore others. We can be sources of love and hope for others by encouraging, affirming and supporting those around us, to lift us up and strengthen us on dark days. By doing so, we can even turn our sadness into joy.

This is a time for reflection and prayer to put us in touch with the meaning and essence of this Christmas mystery:  darkness will never extinguish the Light if we are connected to Christ. I keep you close in my prayers that each one of you, your families and communities, experience the profound love and light of Jesus as we celebrate Christmas during this very unusual year.

May you have a blessed and Merry Christmas!