In the Christian calendar, three major celebrations end one year and usher in the next year: Christmas (25th December), Family Day (30th December) and Peace Day (1st of January). My ‘end of year message’ takes inspiration from this festive calendar.
First of all a simple but pressing invitation for Christmas:
The 25th of December is the birthday of Jesus Christ.
We believe that Jesus is the manifestation of the love of God for mankind.
That is the real reason for our rejoicing and celebration on his birthday.
Christmas is now a universal day of festivities all over our planet earth. In very many places the celebrations have nothing to do with faith in God or belief in God’s love for us.
This year at Christmas, let us remind ourselves of the origin of this great feast.
Let it be an occasion for all: believers, Christian or otherwise as well as non-believers, to search for God’s presence in today’s world. God always comes in a discreet and humble way, like at the first Christmas. He respects our freedom and our achievements; he is attentive to the needs of each person but especially to those of the poor and downtrodden.
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, was born in a caring and loving FAMILY. We celebrate the feast of the Family of Nazareth on the Sunday after Christmas (30th December).
That is also why we gather together as a family during the Christmas festivities.
In today’s world many have abandoned family values; we are self-indulgent and seek our own pleasure without sufficient care for the suffering of those whom we abandon in so doing.
This year let us return to those fundamental values: true love and tenderness, fidelity and forgiveness, openness, sharing, self-sacrifice for our loved ones. Let us be reconciled with our family during this Christmas. Let us forgive and find the true joy of a united, caring and loving family.
And may this unity and love continue into next year and for many years.
“Let us start 2008 by a special reflection on PEACE and prayer for PEACE on the 1st of January.”
Christ our Redeemer and model was at peace with himself and with others, even with those who opposed him. That is why he was able to forgive even at the crucial moment of his passion and death.
We need true peace in the world and in our nation.
We need true peace in our families and deep down in our own hearts.
In our country, one of the great events of the year 2007 was the start of the meetings between the President of the Republic and the Leader of the Opposition.
For a better society we must all follow this example and actively promote peace and reconciliation.
“Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognised as children of God” says Jesus in St. Matthew’s Gospel (Matt 5.9).
The message of hope and healing which Jesus gave us brings inner peace and great joy to those who receive it.
Let that peace and joy be ours by the way we celebrate Christmas and the 1st of January.
Let us share this gift with our family and neighbours and with those who are lonely and down trodden not only at Christmas but during the coming year.