Christmas/ Message of the Metropolitan of Korča to His Grace Monsignor John

2023-12-23 14:33:00, Kulturë CNA

Christmas/ Message of the Metropolitan of Kor?a to His Grace Monsignor John

The Metropolitan of Korça His Grace Monsignor Joani has given his message on the occasion of Christmas.

He says he prays for peace and believes that God has ordained the world to live in justice.

"Dear brothers and sisters. For 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 ears and to be indifferent to suffering, injustices, wars and conflicts, and at the same time to be Christians. God himself says: Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God. A peacemaker is one who brings the peace of Christ to human conflicts. Peace that is not the way the world gives. The peace that the world gives is unstable, it depends on the human will that is often poisoned by selfishness and greed, by the unstable emotions of people and by their rapidly changing interests," he said.

The Metropolitan says that being a peacemaker is not only good on the ethical level, but rather on the ontological level, as well as being good.

"While the peace of Christ is eternal. It is born in the human heart, then it spreads outside and takes on a social dimension. Being a peacemaker is not only good on the ethical level, but rather on the ontological level, as well as being good. 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, conflicts are bleeding our planet and increasing suffering and destruction. Although the road to achieving peace is arduous and difficult, we are not alone. Christmas reminds us again and again that God is among us. He will not abandon us but will give us wisdom and courage to preserve in ourselves and to spread his peace and joy to others."

He says that the news that Christ was born is for us a happy news and a call to wake up.

"Dear brothers and sisters. The news that Christ was born is for us a joyful news and a call to wake up. Awake, O man, for it was for you that God became man. Stand 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 missing. Merry Christmas for many years!" said the Metropolitan of Korça, His Grace Monsignor John./ CNA