NATIVITY MESSAGE OF HIS EMINENCE, ARCHBISHOP BENJAMIN

And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord”…. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2:9-11, 13-14 NKJV)

 

NATIVITY OF THE LORD 2013

To the Reverend Clergy and Faithful of the Diocese of the West

Dearly beloved:

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!

We live in very difficult times. Our own culture is daily attacking ancient basic, fundamental beliefs about morality, marriage and the family. People are jobless and hungry in the wealthiest society the world has ever known. The Middle East — the cradle of Christian faith and the Church — is literally in flames. Martyrs are being added to the ranks of the Saints every single day. The celebration of the coming of Christ is marked with gross consumerism.

Our minds tell us that it has always been so. Our hearts are not so easily convinced. But the glad tidings spoken by the angel of the Lord to those shepherds so long ago should give us great comfort. When the violence of the world seems to overwhelm us, we are reminded of the reality that happens when we let Christ into our hearts, our minds, and our souls. The King of Peace has come and overthrown all forms of darkness. He has put all tyranny to flight. He has calmed the turbulence of this world. If we let Him. The Peace that He is has brought the Kingdom of Heaven into our midst. The angel said, “there is born to you this day…”

So as we gather to celebrate this glorious feast, as we approach the humble little Infant in a manger placed in a cave, let us embrace the “humble glory” that has come into the world through Him. As the Kanon of the feast says, “Christ is Born, glorify Him. Christ is on earth, receive Him.”

I wish all of you the most blessed and glorious celebration of our Lord’s coming and pray that the Light of the new-born Christ fill every darkness and take away every fear!

In the new-born Christ,

†Benjamin

Archbishop of San Francisco and the West