CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
OF METROPOLITAN PAVEL OF MANILA AND HANOI.
TO THE HOLY CLERGY AND FLOCK
OF THE PHILIPPINE-VIETNAMESE DIOCESE
Beloved pastors in the Lord, dear brothers and sisters!
“Thy Nativity, O Christ our God, has shone upon the world the light of knowledge.”
Amidst the continuous worries and sorrows of our present life, like a solemn peal, this majestic church song is heard again, marking the coming of the universal Feast of the Nativity of Christ.
Once upon a time, in ancient times, more than two thousand years ago, at the dawn of Christianity, one of the greatest preachers of the Christian faith, the supreme Apostle Paul, wrote in a letter to his beloved disciple Timothy: “Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh” (1 Tim. 3:16).
The Holy Gospel, telling us how this greatest event in the history of mankind took place—the appearance of God in the flesh—says that the Angel who announced the Nativity of Christ to the Bethlehem shepherds told them: “Behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which will be to all people: for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk. 2:10–11).
— Great joy… Here the Holy Church, solemnly celebrating the Great and Bright Feast of the Nativity of Christ, renews this great joy before us from year to year, reverently and joyfully thinking and reminding us of the wondrous feat of the merciful and compassionate love of the One Who descended from the unapproachable and awesome Throne of His Divine glory and appeared on our sinful earth — “for us men and for our salvation”…
Great for the soul of man is the grace of meeting with God. But deep is the sorrow of our separation from God due to violation of His commandments, when the human heart turns away from the Creator to sin and unrighteousness. But what delight and inspiration fills a person when suddenly, in the darkness of ignorance, the Lord comes to rescue and through repentance returns us to Himself!
However, in order for Christ to remain close, constant efforts are required of us. Only evil is prone to spread easily, and therefore it often seems attractive. And spiritual life always presupposes not only a struggle with weaknesses and sins, but also an unwavering aspiration of the mind and heart to God…
If we repent and turn to God with all our hearts, He Himself will turn His face to us. Bowed by our prayers and our sorrows, He will take mercy on us and will grant us a good year, filled with peace and joy. For His power is ineffable, His love is inexhaustible, and His truth endures forever.
Dear fathers, brothers and sisters! With all my heart I thank the clergy and laity of the Diocese for their diligent labors for the glory of God, for the good of Holy Mother Church.
With gratitude to God, let us enter the coming New Year, as a year of God’s goodness, for there is no greater good for us than the life in the Lord which the Creator has gifted us.
The Lord promises special mercy and protection to His faithful. And isn’t this what this solemn holiday tells us? These days the Church sings and repeats the prophetic words many times: “God is with us, understand, O ye nations, and submit yourselves, for God is with us.” Yes, He is with us – with His mercy, favor and help. And this is our consolation, strengthening and joy – the joy that the angel announced to people on the holy Christmas night.
I congratulate you all on the great holiday of the Nativity of Christ, my dears!
By God’s Grace,
METROPOLITAN OF MANILA AND HANOI
CHRIST’S NATIVITY 2024/2025.
