December 25, 2005

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

God made a promise: “The virgin shall be with child and give birth to a son, and they shall call him Emmanuel, a name which means ‘God is with us'” (Mt. 1:24 , cf. Is. 7:14 ) . God's promise came true: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…” (Jn 1:14) . “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” (Lk 2: 10-11) .

Christmas once again proclaims the good news that the Eternal Son of God has taken up our human nature and dwells among us to save us from our sins and eternal death and to lead us home to eternal life with God our Father. Christmas not only proclaims the good news of our Savior's birth; Christmas also invites us to allow Jesus to be formed within us. As our Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI recently stated: “[H]e wants to enter human life through us. He also seeks a living dwelling place in our personal lives. This is the coming of the Lord. Let us once again learn this…the Lord can also come among us.”

Even more, Christmas missions us to bring the Christ living within us to others, so that His Presence can transform their lives with hope and peace and joy.

This Christmas and throughout the coming New Year, my prayer is that more and more you will deepen your union with Christ through prayer and the celebration of the sacraments and make Him present in our society by your witness and love.

I will remember each of you in prayer, asking the Infant Savior to bless you and those you love with the fullness of His peace!

Faithfully in Christ,

The Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde
Bishop of Arlington