FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
The Archbishop of Tirana, Durrës and all Albania, Joani, has congratulated Christian believers on Christmas Eve.
Archbishop Joan invites us to be humble, loving, and caring for others, especially those in need.
The Archbishop has called on believers to humble themselves towards the poor and to cleanse their hearts from all evil.
“These words summarize and express the meaning of the Christmas holiday in the deepest and most perfect way. If we will focus on understanding the significance of this great mystery, in which the Son and Word of the Father was incarnated and became man, then we will be able to participate in the celebration and spiritual joy and will feel within ourselves the transforming power of experiencing this event. The Incarnation is not simply a miracle or a mystery worthy of admiration; it is the greatest gift that could be given to humanity. The Son and Word of God becomes incarnate and sits next to human suffering, touches the distortion of our nature to correct it, revealing to us the depth of compassion and profound humility, which arises from His infinite love for the whole world. Saint Athanasius the Great expresses this shocking truth in a concise way: The Son of God became man, that we might become gods.
Dear brothers and sisters! We must joyfully proclaim this good news and testify with zeal and without tiring that God now dwells among us. A true witness saves lives - says the wise Solomon (Prov. 16:6). It is the duty of every Christian to spread and share this light with the whole world, because only by sharing it with others can the light be preserved and grow, otherwise it will fade and eventually disappear. Now, more than ever, the world needs the light of Christ. It is necessary, because a life without the presence of God becomes miserable, turns into a life without love, without joy, without light: a life in darkness. Only His presence can illuminate our hearts and souls and can give our lives light and joy. He is the light in our darkness and His teaching, says the psalmist, is a lamp for our journey in this life.
To celebrate the Nativity of Christ spiritually, let us take care during these festive days to experience more deeply the holiness and greatness of this divine gift. We can do this by cleansing our hearts from all evil and filling them with love and humility towards all people, especially those in need – in poverty, in sickness, in despair and in loneliness. The Lord identifies Himself with people in need, telling us: For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me... Truly I say to you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me (Mt. 25:35-40). "Only by doing these things will Christmas have true meaning and everything in us will be illuminated by the Word made flesh," is Archbishop Joan's greeting.
Lini një Përgjigje