christmas pastoral in english
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8/8/2019 Christmas Pastoral in English
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METROPOLITANARCHEPARCHY OF PHILADELPHIAUkrainian Catholic
827 North Franklin Street
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19123-2097
Phone (215) 627-0143 Fax (215) 627-0377ukrmet@catholic.org
No. 747/2010 O Office of the MetropolitanThis Number Should be Prefixed to Your Reply
CHRISTMAS PASTORAL OF THE HIERARCHS OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC CHURCH
IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ToOurReverendClergy,ReverendReligious,andtotheFaithful,
ChristisBorn!
Christmasbeginswiththejoyfulproclamationofgoodnews.Anangelofheaven
announces to the shepherds that the Savior has been born. It is good news which
cannotbecontained.Itisannouncedandcelebratedinheavenandonearthbyglorious
choirsandlowlyshepherds.Wejoyfullyproclaiminourbeautifultraditionalwaythat
Godisamongus!It isconstantlyrepeatedmanytimesduringtheeveningCompline
Service.Itisasifwecannotsayitenough!
Theangelannounced totheshepherds thebirthofJesusandled themto themanger. The angel also directed the three kings or astrologers to search for the
newbornJesus.Boththesimpleshepherdsandthewellstudiedastrologersheededthe
proclamation ofJesus birth intheworld. They re-arrangedtheir lives tosearch for
Jesus.TheymadepersonalsacrificetogreetJesusintotheworld.Theirheartswere
opentothehandofGodamidstthem.
The ruler at the time, Herod, was also blessed to hear of the newborn King,
Jesus. His heart and mind were not open to Gods presence. He regarded Jesus
authorityasathreattohisownauthority.Pridedoesthattoanyperson.Theselftakes
ongreaterimportanceandsignificancethanGodHimself.Thepersonendsuplosing
theprivilegeofcomingtoknowGod.TheangeloftheLorddirectedtheastrologersto
takeadifferentroutehometoavoidrevealingtoHerodtheplaceoftheChildJesus.
God continually intervenes through people in His love and concern for the
welfareofallpeoples.Yet,therearethosewhochoosetoallowprideandselfishnessto
overtaketheirhearts.TheydiminishthelightofJesusintheworld.Reflectonhowyou
yourselfrevealthelightofJesusChristinyourlife.Canyousayofyourselfthatyouare
ahopefulperson?DoyoureflectGodsloveinyourwordsandactionswithothers?Or,
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doyouallowselfishnessandpridetodominateyourchoices in life? Doyou radiate
Godsloveordoyoudiminishit?
ChoosingtoloveGodandtosharethelightofJesusChristwillbringyoutoa
closerjourneywithJesusinyourearthlylifeandineternity.Allowyourselftobethe
brightlightofJesusloveandcareinthewordaroundyouandwiththepeopleyouwere
giventoloveandtonurtureinJesusname.YouwillcometoshareintheblessednessofourBlessedMotherwhowillintercedeforyourneedswithHerSon,Jesus.Youwill
thentrulycelebrateChristmas!
GodgrantyouamostblessedChristmascelebration,filledwithmuchjoyshared
withothers.Knowofourloveforyouandofourremembranceofyouinourprayers.
Mayyoubeblessedwithgoodhealth,happiness,andmuchcontentmentinallofyour
endeavorsinthecomingyear!
Christ is Born! Let us glorify Him!
+StefanSoroka
Metropolitan-ArchbishopofPhiladelphia
+RichardSeminack
EparchofSt.NicholasinChicago
+PaulChomnycky,OSBM
EparchofStamford
+JohnBura
ApostolicAdministrator
ofSt.JosaphatinParma
Christmas,2010
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