CHRISTMAS PASTORALS: We joyously proclaim: "God is among us!" (12/19/04)

CHRISTMAS PASTORALS

We joyously proclaim: "God is among us!"

Below is the Christmas pastoral message of Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia.

To my brother bishops and clergy, the venerable religious, and to my brothers and sisters in Christ:

The Gospel of St. Luke offers us an interesting detail about the birth of Jesus. It tells us that Mary "gave birth to her first-born son and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the place where travelers lodged" (Lk 2:7). A manger is a container from which animals in a stable feed from. The infant Jesus being laid in a manger foretells of his becoming the food of nourishment for all mankind.

Jesus' life is one of continually feeding or satisfying the thirst of people. At the wedding feast at Cana, Jesus turns water into wine. Later, he invites others by saying that "if anyone thirsts, let him come to me; let him drink" (Jn 7:38) When he first calls his disciples, Jesus fills the fishermen's nets with an overabundance of fish. The new disciples then leave everything and follow Jesus. In answer to the disciples' concern for the crowd of 5,000 men plus women and children, Jesus asks them "Why do you not give them something to eat yourselves?" (Lk 9:13). He then performs the miracle of the multiplication of five loaves of bread and two fish, feeding that huge crowd of people following him. Jesus offers "living water" to the Samaritan woman at the well, saying that "the water I give shall become a fountain ... leaping up to provide eternal life" (Jn 4:14). Later Jesus encourages his disciples and others to work "for food that remains unto life eternal, food which the Son of Man will give you" (Jn 6:27). At the Passover meal, Jesus institutes the Holy Eucharist, providing the real heavenly bread which gives us life. Jesus explains to the disciples that "I myself am the bread of life" (Jn 6:35).

Our holy father, Pope John Paul II has proclaimed a Year of the Eucharist, a special grace-filled time for us to reflect more deeply on the meaning of the Eucharist. St. Cyril of Jerusalem remarks that through the Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ, a person becomes one body and one blood with him. St. John Chrysostom speaks of Christ's desire to become totally one with the body of the believer. When we receive the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, we have Christ living within us, who transforms our life. The Word of God made flesh continually abides within and among us. We joyously proclaim that "God is among us!" on Christmas Eve. The Eucharist brings us together, helping us to overcome our barriers and leading us to a new unity in the Lord, as one family, His holy Church.

St. John Chrysostom reminds us that we should always participate in these holy mysteries with fervor. My prayer for you and for all within our Ukrainian Catholic Church for this Christmas and for the New Year is that we live and pray our faith with much greater fervor. Allow the Christ within us and among us to transform you into the living fountain of goodness, generosity and kindness which you are called to be. As you meditate on the infant Jesus in the manger and on the many ways God continues to nourish you in Christ, resolve to be His instrument of nourishment and care for others. Allow Him to multiply your gifts in response to the needs of others. Your response will be no less dramatic than that of the disciples. You will find yourself joyously following Jesus in the affairs of your day-to-day life. It can only be contagious to others and contribute to the building up of His holy Church, for "God is with us!"

We have also witnessed in the past month the contagious enthusiasm of those who have stood for democratic ideals in Ukraine. People all over the world reflected daily on the crisis in Ukraine, given the tremendous media attention given to the peaceful protests of Ukrainians in Kyiv and other major cities of Ukraine. A sense of unity became apparent among Ukrainians of different generations, different faiths and different political beliefs. God is surely with these people as they stand against continued oppression and corruption of the country and its people. This same unity has developed among Ukrainians throughout the world, breaking down the existing barriers between successive generations of immigrants to the U.S.A. and other countries. We pray that this sense of one family as Ukrainians, journeying together in Ukraine and throughout the world, will persevere and grow amidst us. Let us all pray for peace for the people of our beloved Ukraine, and for true and fair elections of its new president.

This same sense of contagious unity was apparent amidst the bishops and clergy of our four eparchies, when we gathered in Washington, D.C., with our Patriarch Lubomyr Cardinal Husar for the solemn blessing and rededication of St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Seminary. God was surely amidst us as we renewed our sense of hope and vision for our Ukrainian Catholic Church in the U.S.A. Let us pray for vocations. Let each of us encourage young men and women from amidst us to respond to God's call to serve Him as His priest or religious sister. God loves our Church, and inspires young men and women to serve. They need our words of invitation, encouragement and support. God is with us! Let us build up His holy Church!

Know that you have a special place in my heart and in my prayers offered at this holy time and always. On this Feast of Christ's birth, our apostolic blessing is humbly conferred upon all the clergy, religious and faithful.

Christ is Born! Glorify Him!
Ý Stefan Soroka
Metropolitan-Archbishop

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