But, that said, according to the statistics, isn’t something
else grossly out-of-whack? How is it possible to altogether ignore such an injustice?
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
As we draw near to Christmas, we remember that Jesus was born in a time
of political uncertainty, in a land occupied by a foreign power. A political
act, a census, dictated that every man and his family register in their native
town. Mary and Joseph thus found themselves far from home and loved ones, on
the road, about to bring a child into the world without adequate shelter, money
or support. They then became refugees when the king’s jealousy and rage
endangered their child’s life. This same human drama is being played out on
stages all over the world today. We entered into 2013 moved by the crisis in
Syria, a human tragedy on a scale never before seen by humankind, with two
million people displaced and rendered refugees. Newfoundlanders found
themselves moved to respond. We ended the year with the worst natural disaster
in history, Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, which rendered hundreds of
thousands homeless. Once again, Newfoundlanders found it in their hearts to
respond.
As refugees, Jesus, Mary and Joseph would have welcomed the aid
provided by Newfoundlanders. Knowing what it is to be poor and vulnerable to
the ravages of nature, we have consistently opened our hearts, hands and
pocketbooks to help people in need. The generosity of Newfoundlanders in time
of tremendous and immediate need has moved me greatly. I have been just as
moved by the generosity of people who, day in and day out, take time to
volunteer, donate to local charities, or bring food to people who are grieving
or in need.
It is no coincidence that our God chose to take on human form in and
through a poor refugee family. Our God does nothing by accident. God became
human in these circumstances to call us to identify with, and give ourselves
for, the poor. We cannot be satisfied with “poverty reduction” strategies; we
must strive, as Pope Francis urges us, to see the world and people through
God’s eyes. He calls us to envision and work for a future of hope and
reconciliation, equality and justice. And how will we know that this Kingdom of
God is being made real in our midst? The hungry will be fed, the naked will be
clothed, the lame will walk, the blind will see, the imprisoned will be freed,
and the poor will have Good News proclaimed to them.
In order to bring about this new
world, it is important to do what Jesus would do. It is even more important to
make Christ present in our world. We Christians do not just slavishly imitate
our Master. We have been given His very heart, intelligence, skill and
imagination. We must get out there, make a difference wherever we find
ourselves, be creative, use our God-given talents and finely-developed skills
to make the lives of our brothers and sisters better and our world a more just,
more loving, more peaceful place.
[emphasis mine]
I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas! May you
experience all the blessings of God. Together, let us give thanks for the
blessings of this past year, and look forward in hope.
Sincerely yours in Christ,
______________________________
MOST REVEREND MARTIN W. CURRIE
Archbishop of St. John’s
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