Christmas 2023: Let our faces be lit by the face of Jesus

The birth of Jesus is the most powerful sign and message of hope in a world darkened by the shadows of fear and uncertainty. For Christmas 2023, Vatican Radio has asked religious leaders and heads of Christian charitable organizations for their reflections on the theme, “The Lord’s birth is the birth of peace.” Today’s message comes from Bishop Steve Lowe of Auckland, President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference.

Listen to Bishop Lowe's Christmas Message

Christmas Message of Bishop Steve Lowe

Bishop of Auckland and President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference

Tēnā Koutou, Katoa. Christmas greetings from Aotearoa in New Zealand. For us in New Zealand, it is summer time, and this morning, a few days before Christmas I went for a walk along the beach as the sun rose. It rose silently out of the sea and lit up my face with its morning rays.

In the same way, we are invited to have our faces lit up by the face of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. We are invited into the depths of the Cave of Bethlehem, we are invited to gaze into the face of him, who is God's peace given to all people. We are invited to enter into the mystery of his desire for peace for all people of goodwill.

Bishop Steve Lowe

This is the face whom we are all invited to gaze upon. As the rising sun gives birth to a new day and lightens our faces. May this day, as we gaze upon the radiance of the Christ child, fill us with his peace.

May it be a peace that we in turn radiate, to all those we meet. Especially, may we bring peace in the face of annoyance. May we bring peace in the face of intolerance. May we bring peace in the face of anger or impatience.

For it's not enough to celebrate the birth of the Prince of Peace. No, we need to give birth to that same peace in our lives. As the words of the hymn say, let there be peace on Earth, and let it begin with me.

May the radiance of the Christ child, smile on you and fill you with his peace today, and may you share that peace. May you all have a blessed and peace-filled Christmas.

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