The following is the Christmas message from Archbishop of Port of Spain and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Bridgetown Rev. Charles Jason Gordon.
“And the angel said to the Shepherds, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you Good News of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger ’.” (Luke 2:10-12)
Christmas brings Good News! Great News! Great joy! Jesus Christ is born in Bethlehem, to the Virgin Mary! Christ, the gift of God in person!
Christmas is an incredible manifestation of God’s love for us in the precious gift of His son.
What a generous God!
How will each of us receive this tremendous gift, baby Jesus, this Christmas? Jesus is just waiting for us to invite Him into our hearts. How can you say no to a little baby?
Even though Jesus knows all of our faults and sins, He loves us unconditionally and will give us the gift of eternal life. Jesus came to live among us to experience human life, and offer us a way to find mercy and peace.
But even though He is the Son of God, Jesus was not born in premises fit for a king. Mary and Joseph did not receive a red carpet welcome in Bethlehem – in fact they were turned away from the inn and sent to spend the night in a cold stable among smelly animals with no VIP treatment. Jesus the son of God was born humble, poor, homeless and rejected.
Are you going to be like the innkeeper who does not find room for Him in your heart and turns Him away?
Quoting St. John Paul II, Pope Francis has said: “Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ”. In this Child, “God invites us to be messengers of hope. He invites us to become sentinels for all those bowed down by the despair born of encountering so many closed doors. In this Child, God makes us agents of his hospitality.”
Brothers and Sisters, having received Jesus, the greatest of all gifts, how can we be inspired to be Good News this Christmas? How can we show love to others, to the poor and vulnerable? How can we love as Jesus loves us? How can we show that we care?
Like Jesus, we are called to be a gift from God to other people. We are called to give unconditionally and without any expectation of gratitude, reward or recognition, for there is no greater gift than the gift of ourselves. Whatever we do, it is for one purpose: to share the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life to everyone; to shout from the mountains and rooftops that Jesus Christ is born, that Jesus loves us!
This Christmas, let us remember baby Jesus. Let us love. It is through giving that we share in His life and joy.
Let us pray for children, men and women who are being deprived of their human dignity and justice, and have been abandoned or left to fend for themselves.
Let us pray for those persons who are most vulnerable – the poor, refugees, victims of domestic violence, human trafficking and the drug trade, as well as children and the elderly who are abused. Let us also pray for their abusers that they may repent, ask for forgiveness and surrender themselves to Christ this Christmas.
Let us pray that God gives hope and strength to persons who are unemployed, that they may find decent work and have faith that God will see them through their challenges.
Let us pray for peace around the world, tolerance and a spirit of mutual respect and reconciliation among all leaders. May the baby Jesus speak to the hearts of the perpetrators of violence and misdeeds so that they may cease. May He bring hope to all persons who are being persecuted for whatever cause.
If like the Magi, you ask, what gifts can we give this Christmas, let us give ourselves: visit shut-ins in the community and in children’s homes; reach out to a family member or friend with whom we have not spoken for many years. Show love, be vulnerable, care. May God’s love illuminate our lives so we can shed light for those in darkness, so they too may share in God’s gift of love, joy and peace.
Jesus Is the Reason for the Season. Let us allow baby Jesus into our hearts this
Christmas. Jesus is the Good News. Let us all BE Good News wherever we go.
I wish you a Blessed and Holy Christmas.
