Share the good news of Christmas
Adam Cardinal Maida, Archbishop of Detroit
Published December 22, 2006
My Brothers and Sisters in the Lord:
As we celebrate Christmas 2006, I greet you with the words the angel spoke to the shepherds that first Christmas: "Do not be afraid; for behold I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord." More than ever, the angel's greeting is something we need to hear.
We are all desperate for good news! Every time we turn on the radio or television or open the newspaper, we are confronted with difficult, perhaps troubling news about terrible violence, be it overseas or in our own communities, about economic challenges, and about threats to common decency and morality. But it is important to remember that hidden "in between the lines" of every story and in ways that are often not given much publicity, "good news" is truly happening in countless ways in our families, in our metro area, and throughout the world. The challenge for us is to be spiritually attuned and attentive to the mysterious but powerful working of the Holy Spirit.
One of the mysteries we celebrate at Christmas is our belief that the almighty and eternal God took flesh and lived among us in a hidden, humble and very ordinary way. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into the world without any fanfare at all; in fact, He experienced a birth that was less than convenient or comfortable — in a manger, in a stable, while His parents were on the midst of a journey. The first 30 years of His life were "hidden" in Nazareth where no one thought anything special of Him; He was simply the carpenter's son. And even when He worked great miracles and spoke to the hearts of thousands of people, still they did not understand who He really was. Even His closest disciples missed the full mystery of the truth of His identity and mission; only after the Resurrection did they come to understand and fully believe.
The good news of Christmas first came to people who most desperately needed it — shepherds who were considered social outcasts. Undoubtedly, their work of watching their sheep on the hills by night was very routine and boring, and they had to endure the raw cold of winter and the constant risk of wild animals seeking to devour the sheep. Theirs was a lonely life and they were generally not given much respect by anyone in the community. Yet it was to these very people that the angels of the Lord appeared with a message of hope and peace. Even more, they became the bearers of the good news to others; they announced to others what they themselves had seen and heard.
The application for us is clear enough: those who truly admit their dependence and need are the ones who hear and see the marvels of God. When we are too caught up with our own desire for control and security, we can often blind ourselves to the subtle but powerful ways God is at work around us. When our ears are filled with the noises of this world, we miss the gentle voice of the Lord offering us consolation and peace.
The celebration of Christmas challenges us to find time and space for quiet, prayerful reflection on the true significance and meaning of what we are experiencing: the hidden God among us in the most ordinary things of life. We are invited to take a new look at ourselves and every other person, recognizing the dignity of what it means to be human. If Jesus took on our nature, then we should be proud of our humanity with all of its limitations and challenges. Because of the mystery of the Incarnation, we have all the more reason to work for the greater respect for the dignity of every human life from the first moment of conception until last breath. Our faith in the mystery of the Word Made Flesh also invites us to an ever-greater sensitivity and openness to the Lord's presence in the least of our brothers and sisters — especially the poor, the homeless, and all who are vulnerable in body or spirit.
One of the things that brings me great joy each week is reading The Michigan Catholic and noticing the many stories of "good news" unfolding all around the archdiocese. While the world and secular press are so often preoccupied with the "dark side" of life, as Christians, we should always be looking and listening for the good news of how Jesus Christ continues to make a difference in the world today. We can look with pride to the person of our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, and his efforts to be a voice and a presence on behalf of the Gospel. Here in Detroit this year, we have reason for special joy in the blessing of Bishop Daniel Flores and the way our Holy Father has recognized the needs of our Hispanic people. We can take much joy and satisfaction in the way our parishes and schools are working together in the Vicariate Pastoral Plan process and the beautiful way the different racial and ethnic groups within our Church come together in common concern for the social needs of our metro area.
The "good news" of Jesus Christ is being heard, proclaimed and lived in thousands of different ways throughout our Church as people dedicate time each day to a prayerful reading and study of the Scriptures and share their experiences with others. The "good news" of Jesus is constantly coming to life in our families as we open our hearts to the blessing of the Lord in our homes and as we use our gifts and talents in deeds of generous service. We are all renewed in the experience of the living "good news" of Jesus as we worship His presence in the Holy Eucharist and the sacraments, and then put that faith into action. I am always astounded at the amount of charitable generosity being done by countless individuals and groups throughout the archdiocese – in organized ways and often through informal and direct contacts. Yes, the "good news" of Jesus is truly present and alive in our Church of Detroit!
During these days of Christmas, I hope and pray that you will have attentive minds and hearts, eagerly looking for and listening for the manifold ways the Good News of Jesus Christ is happening in our own life and times!
Merry Christmas to you and your families. May the Lord bless us all with the gift of His peace and may we – by the very quality of our lives – be "good news" to the whole world!
Sincerely yours in the Lord,
†Adam Cardinal Maida
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