Christmas is the commemoration of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem which is God’s entry into human history. Christmas invites us to believe in Jesus and come to experience life in his name (John 20:30-31). A media release from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference in Sri Lanka stated.
This year we commemorate the birth of Jesus in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. After the tragic events of Easter Sunday all men and women of goodwill still await justice. Let us be attentive to the God of communion who speaks to us in and through the events of our world as well.
The commemoration of the birth of Jesus proclaims to us the love of God (John 3:16) and the dignity of the human condition. Christmas is also the celebration of the family, of our children and of the poor. Despite the seemingly hopeless situation confronting us due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Christmas gives us hope as did the original Christmas. Pope Francis in his latest encyclical teaches: “That every human being possesses an inalienable dignity is a truth that corresponds to human nature apart from all cultural change” (Fratelli Tutti 213). He reiterates that the wellspring of human dignity and fraternity is in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It gives way to the primacy given to relationship, to the universal communion with the entire human family. He said that it is the vocation of all of us. Christmas celebrated amid this pandemic invites all of us to respect always the dignity of all, as the Pope underlines, it is not something invented or imagined (Fratelli Tutti 277).
Therefore, in keeping with our vocation, let us lift up our hearts to God in fervent prayer for all those who suffer, the poor and all our children.
Mindful of those who are less privileged, let us share our resources with as many as possible. In keeping with our Christian calling, let us be united in very devout and fervent prayer with all who are afflicted and those who await justice.
We wish all our Faithful, our fellow citizens and all men and women of goodwill a Blessed Christmas the release added.