Fr Antonio Pineda
don’t normally quote Protestant theologians as their teachings often conflict with Catholic dogmas and doctrines. However, there are many things that we share with our Protestant brothers and sisters and one of them is the true meaning of Christmas.
Karl Barth, one of the great Protestant theologians, was once asked to be a guest lecturer at the University of Chicago Divinity School. At the end of a captivating closing lecture, the president of the seminary announced that Dr Barth was not well and was quite tired. “Therefore, I will ask just one question on behalf of all of us,” he said.
He turned to the renowned theologian and asked, “Of all the theological insights you have ever had, which do you consider to be the greatest of them all?” It was the perfect question for a man who had written literally tens of thousands of pages of some of the most sophisticated Protestant theology ever put into print. Karl Barth closed his tired eyes, and he thought for a minute, and then he half smiled, opened his eyes, and said to those young seminarians, “The greatest theological insight that I have ever had is this: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”
Christmas is the celebration of this great Divine Love for us sinful humans. It is the Feast of God’s sharing His love with us: Jesus, as our Saviour, brought the Good News that our God is a loving, forgiving, merciful, rewarding God and not a judgmental, cruel, punishing God. He demonstrated by his life and teaching how God our Heavenly Father loves us, forgives us, provides for us, and rewards us. All his miracles were signs of this Divine Love. Jesus’ final demonstration of God’s love for us was his own death on the cross to atone for our sins and to make us children of God.
Each Christmas reminds us that sharing love with others is our Christian privilege and duty, and every time we do that, Jesus is reborn in our lives. Let us humbly admit the truth with the German mystic Angelus Silesius who said: “Christ could be born a thousand times in Bethlehem – but all in vain until He is born in me.”
As we celebrate Christmas Day, let us allow Jesus to be reborn in our hearts and lives. But don’t let this be just a one-day event, but something we do every day. Throughout our lives, let us allow Him to radiate the Light of his Presence from within us as sharing and selfless love. This is expressed in compassionate words and deeds, unconditional forgiveness, the spirit of humble service, and overflowing generosity.
Fr Peter and I, along with the parish team, wish you all a very merry Christmas, and thank you for your prayers all you do for the parish.