I strongly suggest that we Christians make every effort to become true and effective followers of Christ with a missionary spirit in our Church communities and our work places.  In order that that can happen, we must first find ways and means of making our homes centres of evangelization, so that Christ will become real for each Christian and the focal point of our thought, word and action. In this is the essence of the “Word dwelling amongst us!”  Unless Christ is made incarnate in the thought, words, attitudes and actions of Christians, no amount of catechesis or bible study will take root.  This is the essence of evangelization that undergirds a new fervor that is sorely needed in our Churches and in our society!   This fervor must be based upon the realization that God first loved us in the Person of the Babe of Bethlehem destined to journey, because of love, all the way to Calvary. 

During this Christmas Season, may Love Divine, made manifest in God’s Son, capture not only our admiration but more so our mind and heart.  Thus captured, you and I will be better able to provide afresh a modern day Crib where Jesus feels welcome and dwells amongst us.  And what, pray tell, would be the consequence?  From admiration and adoration we would move to genuine Christian service to witness to a harsh and violent society the goodness and love of God to others.  Could it be that we are called to be modern-day “angels” to proclaim through prophetic words and loving service the message of hope to the poor, socially-shunned, and marginalized in our society?   As genuine Christians, we cannot figuratively go over to Bethlehem alone to see “this thing that has come to pass.”  No, we must go conscious of our social realities that yearn for our prayers and constant attention so that hope can be engendered in the lives of those despairing, so that love can colour the lives of those who are indifferent, and that joy can be sung in the hearts of one and all.  In that way, the words of scripture come alive:

“The Word was made flesh, and pitched his tent amongst us, and we have seen his Glory, the Glory of the only Son coming from the Father: full of truth and loving kindness” [John 1: 14].  Through love the Son of God has moved into the home of the human family.  That’s the Mystery of God’s Love!  He first loved us!

Fellow saints of God, as we celebrate with our families and friends the Mystery of God’s Love Story, I pray that our Good and Gracious God who gave us his only Son, will shower down on you and yours every good and perfect gift from above. And may the Joyous Spirit of Christmas flood our hearts and minds and follow us throughout all of 2009.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS, PEACEFUL NEW YEAR   

                                                        +Donald J. Reece

                                                       Most Rev. Donald J. Reece

                                                        Archbishop of Kingston

(c) copyright, 2008,  roman catholic archdiocese of kingston, jamaica, west indies