Pastoral Message of the Ukrainian Catholic Hierarchy of the U.S.A.
To Our Clergy, Hieromonks and Brothers, Religious Sisters, Seminarians and Beloved Faithful,
CHRIST IS BORN!
The Nativity scene is anything but noisy and cluttered. Mary and Joseph care for the new-born King, Jesus, in a humble stable. It is a peaceful and serene scene that calls forth peace and stillness within each of us.
Mary, the Mother of God, and her husband, Joseph, humbly accept their role in the plan of God for the salvation of humanity. There is no protest or setting of conditions on their part. They merely accept God's invitation given to them by an angel.
The shepherds peacefully come to visit our Lord and Savior, having heard the news of Jesus' birth announced by an angel. There is no hesitation on their part, and no big debate as to what they should do. They peacefully respond to the angel's announcement and proceed to Bethlehem to see Jesus.
The kings study and follow the stars, and their observation of the unusual star over Bethlehem leads them to come and pay homage to the new-born King, Jesus. In their journey, they also become messengers of God for the invitation to conversion of Herod’s heart. Yet, earthly power does not want to submit to the power of God, and Herod quickly tries to destroy the Christ-child, Jesus. Herod spoils the peacefulness of the Nativity, and forces Joseph and Mary with Jesus to flee the calm of Bethlehem.
To be silent and to obediently listen to the will of God in our life is a challenge for us today and also an invitation.
It is a challenge for us to hear God's presence among us today. We need to cultivate within us a golden silence so as to hear God's whispers to us. Mary gives us the example of being silent and by cherishing all these things within her heart. Mary gives us the example of humility in her acceptance of God's will for her. Joseph, contrary to his own personal desires, hears the message of God through an angel to take Mary as his wife and to nourish the Christ-child, Jesus, without fear. He listens to the voice of God and humbly obeys. Joseph was able to hear the voice of God because he was a prayerful man and listened to God's whispers in his life.
Being silent, listening and following God’s whispers in our life also offers a special invitation for us to enjoy God’s peace, a peace that the world around us cannot offer in its busyness and clamor. It is an invitation to feel within our heart and within our whole being a level of joy and happiness that is beyond comprehension, because God gives it. God is the source of our contentment and happiness. God is with us, and desires our peace and joy in Him.
Listening to God’s whispers in our life, and trusting in His will for us, also strengthens us to cope with the Herods of this world. The shepherds and kings came to give homage to the new-born King, Jesus. Herod gave homage with empty words and the vengeful action to try to destroy the Christ-child, Jesus. We are surrounded with Herods in our world around us. They are exemplified by people who would try and destroy all forms of religious meaning from daily life, particularly in the public domain. They strive to remove Jesus and all reference to God in our daily public life. Walking with God in our humble silence and obedience helps us to hear God’s voice in how we are to react to such Herods of the world within our life. God instructed Joseph through an angel in his dreams as to how to respond to Herod’s threat. God is among us and will whisper to us how we are to respond to the Herods of today. Listening to the whispers of God in our life will also prevent us from taking on characteristics of Herod in our own life.
Our prayer for you on this Feast of the Nativity of Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, is that we enter into that blessed realm of silence exemplified by Mary, the Mother of God, so that we may hear and cherish God’s whispers within our heart. We pray that God’s peace and joy, a peace and joy that surpasses all human understanding, overcome us and direct us to humbly and generously respond to God’s will within our life. Let us grow in our trust in Him, casting away all fears and doubt, and enabling each of us to generously and willingly respond to God’s desire for us.
God grant to you and to your loved ones, and to our brothers and sisters in our beloved Ukraine and scattered throughout the world, good health, joy and contentment. A Blessed Christmas !
Christ Is Born! Praise Him!
Most Reverend Stefan Soroka
Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the U.S.A.
Archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainians
Most Reverend Robert M. Moskal
Bishop of the St. Josaphat Eparchy in Parma
Most Reverend Richard Seminack
Bishop of the St. Nicholas Eparchy in Chicago
Most Reverend Paul Chomnycky, OSBM
Bishop of the Eparchy of Stamford
Most Reverend John Bura
Auxiliary Bishop of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia
Christmas, 2007