The appeal of the Metropolitan of Korça, Ioanni, on the eve of Christmas: Let's spread peace everywhere

2023-12-23 17:22:00, Aktualitet CNA

The appeal of the Metropolitan of Korça, Ioanni, on the eve of Christmas:

The Metropolitan of Korça, His Grace, Monsignor Joani

On the eve of Christmas, the Metropolitan of Korça, His Grace Monsignor John, has conveyed an important message to all Christian believers.

Through the video message, Monsignor John emphasizes peace and gives the message that God wants all people to live together in peace. If it is possible, as far as it depends on the people, to live in peace with everyone.

In the words of Saint Basil the Great "to be a Christian means to be a man of peace and a worker of peace", Monsignor John shows how important it is to live in peace with each other.

"For a son is born to us, and a son is given to us, and he will take over the government. And his name shall be called, Angel of great Counsel, Wonderful, Mighty, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Is. 9:6-7). With these words, the prophet Isaiah announces the birth of Christ, the Prince of peace, who came to restore our relationship with God, enabling us to regain peace. Peace is a burning desire placed within us, designed to show us that the only means to achieve this peace, comes from Him who is called the Prince of Peace, because God wants all people to live together in peace. If possible, as far as it depends on you, live in peace with everyone - the Apostle instructs us (Rm. 12:18).

At the beginning of the Divine Liturgy in the Orthodox Church, the first three requests refer to the main theme of peace: With peace let us pray to God; For peace from above; For the peace of the whole world. After repeating the request for peace 18 more times, until the last prayer: Grant peace to your world, the Divine Liturgy ends with the cry: In peace let us go. From the beginning of the Divine Liturgy to the end, the idea of ??peace prevails. We constantly repeat the importance of peace and pray for it, because being a Christian means being a man of peace and a worker of peace. Nothing is more characteristic of a Christian than being a worker for peace - writes Saint Basil the Great", says the Metropolitan of Korça in his message.

The appeal of the Metropolitan of Korça, Ioanni, on the eve of Christmas:

Grace John says that God has appointed the world to live in justice and peace and that we should not harden our hearts and close our eyes and ears in the face of suffering, injustice, wars and conflicts.

"But Christians, not only pray for peace and believe that God has ordained the world to live in justice and peace, but, because of their faith, they are called to be active peacemakers. We cannot harden our hearts, close our ears and be indifferent to suffering, injustice, wars and conflicts and at the same time be Christians. Saint Joan Gojarti says: I do not believe in the salvation of anyone who does not worry about the salvation of others. Jesus had perfect peace in His heart, but He also had compassion for people, who were like sheep without a shepherd (Mk. 6:34). God himself says: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God (Mat. 5:9).

The peacemaker is the one who brings Christ's peace to human conflicts, a peace that is not what the world gives (Jn.14:27). The peace that the world gives is unstable. It depends on the human will, which is often poisoned by selfishness and greed, by the fickle emotions of men and by their rapidly changing interests. While the Peace of Christ, the Prince of peace, founded on the divine rock of love, is eternal. It originates in the human heart, then spreads outward and takes on a social dimension.

Being a peacemaker is not only good on an ethical level, but rather on an ontological level, just like being good. By not being good and peaceful, it is our very being that is crippled. A peacemaker is one who has love and sees in every person, whoever he is, the icon of God and in his heart there is no hatred and enmity. If we do not see the icon of God in every human being in this life, we will not see the Face of God in the next life. Seek peace with all people and holiness, without which no one will see God - writes Saint Paul (Heb. 12.14)", says the Metropolitan of Korça.

The appeal of the Metropolitan of Korça, Ioanni, on the eve of Christmas:

At the end of his message, Hirësi Joani raises the concern that nowadays peace has decreased both between individuals and in the family.

There is also no social peace between nations. Monsignor John recalls that wars and conflicts are bleeding our planet and increasing suffering and destruction.

The Metropolitan of Korça says that "Christmas reminds us, again and again, that God is among us and will not abandon us, but will give us wisdom and courage to keep it in ourselves and to spread peace and joy to others his".

So he repeats and repeats the call for peace.

"We regretfully see that nowadays peace has diminished, both between individuals and within the family. There is neither social peace nor peace between nations. Wars and conflicts are bleeding our planet and increasing suffering and destruction. God asks us to witness and work for peace.

Although the road to achieving it is arduous and difficult, we are not alone. Christmas reminds us, again and again, that God is among us and will not abandon us, but will give us wisdom and courage to keep it in ourselves and to spread His peace and joy to others.

The peace of God is a gift from Him and part of His grace and, being a foretaste of the Kingdom, it is a medicine against fear and protects our minds and hearts in troubled and unstable times. Only heavenly Peace can remove our earthly anxiety. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds through Jesus Christ - says the Apostle (Phil. 4:7).

Dear brothers and sisters! The news that Christ, the Prince of Peace, was born is for us. He is glad tidings and a wake-up call. Wake up man! For it was for you that God became man. Get up and realize that everything was for you - writes St. Augustine. Therefore, on this holy day of the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, let us wake up and be aware that the Incarnation of the God-man made it possible for His peace to become accessible to all people. Let us experience this peace, first in our hearts and then try to spread it wherever it is lacking.

Merry Christmas and many years to come!

The Metropolitan of Korça, Pogradec, Kolonje, Devolli and Voskopoja + Joani ", the Metropolitan of Korça concludes his message./ CNA