Christmas Message (12/98)

As we approach the great and holy feast of the Nativity of our Lord, God, and Savior Jesus Christ again this Christmas Season, my heart is drawn to reflect with joy and hope on the great mystery of the Incarnation of the Word of God. The Birth of Christ is the unique happening which divided history into two parts: BC and AD, Before Christ or After Him. This is a wonderful opportunity to deepen our preparation not only for Christmas, but also to better prepare ourselves for the coming of the next millennium, which is just one year away.

Saint Paul writes, "But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons and daughters. And because you are sons and daughters, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying 'Abba! Father!' So through God you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son then an heir." (Galatians 4:4-7 - the Epistle read on Christmas Day)

Imagine, we are living in the 'fullness of time' because since the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the 'fullness of time' has arrived. God the Father, in His infinite and unconditional love for us, sent his only begotten Son, born of a woman, to redeem us and to make us His adopted sons and daughters. This year we celebrate our 'sonship' and 'daughterhood' in a particular way because the year 1999 has been consecrated by our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, in a special way to God the Father. In his Apostolic Exhortation, Tertio Millennio Adveniente, the Holy Father writes, " The third and final year of the Jubilee preparation, 1999, will be aimed at broadening

the horizons of believers, so that they will see things in the perspective of Christ: in the perspective of the 'Father Who is in Heaven.' … "In this third year, the sense of being on a 'journey to the Father' should encourage everyone to undertake, by holding fast to Christ the Redeemer of mankind, a journey of authentic conversion."

So, my beloved in Christ, we are being challenged to grow in Christian love.

Perhaps we can begin in our family life. What a blessing it would be to see husbands and wives more open in their love for each other. To see husbands affirming and encouraging their wives, and the wives affirming and supporting their husbands. To see children more loving and obedient to their parents, and to have parents more patient and understanding with their children. If we could bring more love into our homes, our Father in Heaven would be glorified and certainly He would be so pleased.

The family is so important in the life of the Church. The family is often referred to as the 'Domestic Church'. Anything that we do to strengthen the family unit will also strengthen the Church as well. During this Year consecrated to God "the Father, from whom every fatherhood in heaven or on earth takes its name," (Ephesians 3:15) it would be such a blessing if we could improve our relationships with our fathers. Many today have a difficult time in relating to God as Father because their relationship with their own fathers is not good. Because of divorce and many other factors, many today struggle in their relationships with their fathers. Through prayer and love, patience and understanding, openness and forgiveness many relationships between fathers and sons and fathers and daughters could be healed and strengthened. This time before Christmas would be a fitting time to pursue this much needed healing in many people's lives.

I would also like to invite you all to reach out in a special way to the elderly of our parishes. If each family could offer to drive an elderly parishioner to Church for Divine Liturgy just two or three times a year, it would be an outstanding act of kindness and charity. These senior members of the Parishes have contributed so much all their lives by their faithfulness and good example of prayer and virtue.

On a personal note, I would like to express my gratitude to you, clergy and faithful for your prayers, your love, your encouragement and your frank sharing of ideas for continued progress in our beloved Eparchy. My recent trip to Rome and the Vatican for the "Ad Limina" visit to the Holy Father Pope John Paul II, has left in me an unforgettable impression. My time with Auxiliary Bishop Nicholas Samra and 25 other bishops of the New England Region including H. E. Bernard Cardinal Law, Archbishop of Boston, H E. Archbishop Daniel Cronin of Hartford and H. E. Bishop Basil Losten of the Ukrainian Eparchy of Stamford, was most enjoyable, informative, inspiring and full of blessings. We concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with the Holy Father twice and we met with him three more times. On Thursday, October 22, I met with the Pope in a private audience. Later that day, 12 bishops and I took our lunch with the Holy Father. I sat in the seat to his left. As I experienced the honor of eating lunch with the Holy Father, I carried each one of you from the Eparchy in my heart. I prayed for all of you at the Tomb of St. Peter, where we celebrated the Divine Liturgy on October 20. The Holy Father sends his love and prayers and apostolic blessing to all the faithful of the Eparchy. I was touched by the love and warmth of the Pope, not to mention his genuine interest and concern for all his children from the East as from the West.

In conclusion, may this Christmas season be blessed for you, your families and all those dear to you. May you come closer to the Lord Who was born for our salvation. He emptied Himself and assumed our humanity in order to make us rich by His divinity. To Him be glory forever.

Eparch of Newton

December 7, 1998