ARGENTINA, Fr. Javier Arteaga. It is not easy to write this Christmas Covenant Letter at this particular time of the country’s social unrest. It seems that Christmas, synonymous of God’s love, light and peace, has nothing to do with the atmosphere of social tension and the fear of the looting that we are experiencing these days. A boy told me that celebrating Christmas now, with Christmas carols, a tree with lights and the manger would be like submerging oneself in an illusionary world, a childish one that clashes with the painful reality. Then, how do we celebrate Christmas? Above all, we should rediscover the meaning of Christmas: we recall and celebrate the birth of God made man who comes to save us.
A God who comes.
We recall and celebrate the Love and solidarity of God with us, who comes to encounter us, who does not leave us alone and adrift in an uncertain destiny, but rather, who comes to save us to live in his love. This is how we see him when Jesus goes to encounter Zacheus (Lk. 19:1-10) or the Samaritan (John 4:1-45) or when he took our sins upon himself on the wood of the cross. Today, the Lord also comes to encounter us in every Eucharist, in every gesture of love and in so many indiscernable moments as He walks with us. God goes out to encounter us, he takes the initiative of seeking for us, as Pope Francis says, he searches for us first to seal the Covenant with us. And what about us? Do we wait for him, do we allow ourselves to be found by Him, do we welcome him with the desire of encounter?
God comes to save us.
It is admirable how the first Christmas was marked by strong contrasts: the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, Messiah and King of the universe, happens in a miserable stable. The angels announced Him to the poor shepherds, and they were the first ones to adore him. The news of this birth destabilized King Herod, who out of fear for this “king” who was born, ordered for all the little boys in the town be killed. The Holy Family had to flee to save His life, and they lived in exile. Jesus’ Christmas did not happen in the midst of the peace of well-being, on the contrary, it was in an unjust and violent world like ours of today. This was an inner peace; Jesus was born precisely to save us and heal us from so many bad things, hatreds, resentments, wrongdoings, corruption, falsehoods, violence and the crimes that flare up in the heart of man. Yes, Jesus came for this world, for us. Without Him it would be impossible to change our path of death. Our Life and our Hope is in Him.
Collaborators of God.
During Christmas we contemplate the Child Jesus in Mary’s arms close to Saint Joseph. It is not a coincidence that in order to come to save us God becomes “dependent” on Mary’s “yes”, if it can be said this way. Mary was the way that God wanted to follow to come to live among us (cf. Jn. 1:14), and he wants us to follow this same way to reach Him. Mary, like Joseph, John the Baptist, the prophets, and the apostles, is an example of the man who gives his free and generous yes to God’s call to collaborate with Him in his project of salvation. Just as he needed Mary and Joseph in yester years, he needs us today. We are all called to help the Lord. Everyone one from his vocation and personal mission so that through us, Christ can continue to walk through our streets, announcing the Kingdom, embracing those who suffer, helping the needy, consoling those who are sad, healing the sick, pacifying the violent ones and conquering evil with the strength of goodness (Cf. Rom. 12:21).
To everyone who is hurt by this reality, just as with the boy, who told me that celebrating Christmas today, with carols, a tree with lights and the manger would be like submerging oneself in an illusionary world, I believe that the best thing is to celebrate it “with” Jesus. More than ever, invite Jesus to come to us again, give him “space” in our lives, that He may renew us in faith, enkindle us with hope and send us as his messengers to announce and to live in his Love.
Covenant culture.
The year of 2014, the year of the Covenant of Love, is the best opportunity that we have to show the Lord and the Blessed Mother that we want to help to build a Covenant Culture in our surroundings with more peace, with more dialogue and more solidarity.
Dear brothers/sisters, it is one week until Christmas; on this December 18th, when we renew the Covenant of Love with Mary, let us pray that she will grant us peace of heart and social peace in our Nation. Let us pray before the manger with the Founder and Father:
Mother, descend on the roads of our nation
with your Divine Son
so that following your footsteps
it will find true and stable peace.
A cordial greeting and blessing to each one of you and your families from the Shrine.
Merry Christmas and a blessed 2014!
Spanish/English translation: Celina M. Garza, San Antonio, Texas
