A Christmas Message
Diocesan Press Service. November 20, 1974 [74326]
Christmas messages proclaim joy and peace and express love and good will amid the hopes and fears of this world. Memories are stirred and words can become softened by nostalgia and sweet sentiments. Recalling the joys of some Christmas past may cause us to forget the proclamation of the Christ's first coming or the message that He is coming again. We remember to forget.
Let us not forget that ancient proclamation of Christ's coming and renew again our preparations if we hope to know the joy and peace and love in Christmas. Hear the Advent cry: "Repent!" "Prepare ye the way of the Lord!" "Make his highway in the desolate places. "
And how do we prepare His way? How do we repent? How do we receive Him in the love and peace of Christmas ?
As Christ has promised, we receive Him when in faith we turn from our preoccupations with selfish concerns and share life with "the least of His brethren" who have become the most of His brethren -- the hungry and homeless, the sick and lowly, the imprisoned and forgotten.
Pray, brethren, in hope for the peace of Christ and the love to do His will.
John M. Allin
Presiding Bishop