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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