This year we celebrate the
Christmas Season within the Year of Faith declared by Pope Benedict XVI.
What can the Year of Faith contribute to the Christmas spirit? Faith is
a living and sustained relationship with God. It is the Triune God who
initiates this relationship by coming to us. Faith becomes complete in
our response to God in trust and love, transforming our relationship
with other people, society and creation.
In a real sense, Christmas is all about faith. To remove faith from
Christmas is to empty it of its meaning. It is a season born of faith
and a privileged time to renew our faith. On the one hand, Christmas
vividly recalls the coming of the Savior Jesus Christ, incarnate by the
power of the Holy Spirit. He comes as one like us except in sin, because
as the Savior he cannot participate in humanity’s rejection of God. He
opens the door for us to enter God’s life. His obedience and fidelity is
the door to God. He is the way. On the other hand, every Christmas
season invites us to receive Jesus as the true Son of God become flesh,
to accept him as our Savior and to enter the door to life in the Holy
Spirit. Faith in God leads us to solidarity with our neighbors,
especially the poor whom Jesus loves. Faith makes us sharers in Jesus’
saving mission and heralds of true freedom from all that enslaves us.
I pray that all Christians may appreciate more the precious gift of
faith during this Christmas season. As we behold the Christ Child,
humble and poor, let us thank God for his great love for us and let us
respond with all the love we could give. Only pure divine love can save
us! I wish all you and your loved ones a Blessed Christmas and a
Peaceful New Year!
+ LUIS ANTONIO G. CARDINAL TAGLE
Archbishop of Manila
(Source:
Veritas846.ph)
