December 2010
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
PEACE be with all of you!
Christmas is the celebration of the Mystery of God’s Incarnation – God becoming like one of us. As Rev. Fr. Avery Dulles, SJ pointed out and emphasized: “The incarnation does not mean that God saves us from the pains of this life. It means that God-is-with-us. For the Christian, just as for everyone else, there will be cold, lonely seasons, seasons of sickness, seasons of frustration, and a season within which we will die. Christmas does not give us a ladder to climb out of the human condition. It gives us a drill that lets us burrow into heart of everything that is and, there, find it shimmering with divinity.”
It would be irresponsible and unrealistic to say the God by becoming one with us took away problems, pain, pressures of daily living; but, indeed, when God became one with us, an invitation to peek on God’s infinite love and the challenge to allow ourselves to be embraced by that love was offered.
As I lived with you for a year now, I saw, listened to, and felt the problems, pain, and pressures that came to us individually, as a family, and as a community – failing health… joblessness… sickness… marital difficulties… financial struggles… mistrust… unfaithfulness… coping with old age… and even death… Despite all these bleak and grim realities, I say, there is a reason to celebrate Christmas because I never felt or even doubted, not even for a single moment, that God has abandoned us.
As I lived with you for a year now, I saw, listened to, and felt so many graces given to me, given to you, given to families, given to us as a parish community – welcoming new members… baptisms… blessing of marriages… praying for one another… eating together… working together… perseverance… new friendships… expressing our care and concern for each other… being models of faith, hope, and love.
I greet you with these words: “May the LIGHT shine always in your life. Merry Christmas!” The twofold message (that I intend with this greeting) is for each one of us to allow Jesus to be our Light and that Light radiate to others as we try to follow Him.
As I end my Christmas message, I will take this opportunity to ask for your continued understanding, patience and love. For those whom I hurt, saddened, and/or neglected, I ask for forgiveness and prayers. With God’s grace, I promise and try to be a better Pastor.
Merry Christmas and a Prosperous and Peaceful New Year to you all!
In Opus Ministerii,
Fr. Edgar B. Cleofe
