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  • Prelate's New Year and Christmas Message

    Prelate's New Year and Christmas Message

    http://asbarez.com/118004/prelate%E2%80%99s-new-year-and-christmas-message-4/
    Friday, January 3rd, 2014


    Western Prelate Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian

    The Incarnation Is an Invitation to Emulate Christ

    `And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us...' (John 1:14)

    As we approach the dawning of a new year and prepare to welcome the
    Birth and Theophany of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ into our
    hearts and souls, we give thanks and praise to Almighty God for the
    gift of another year and most especially for the indescribable gift of
    His Only-Begotten Son Who, in the words of St. Athanasius the Great,
    `became man that man might become God.'

    After the fall of Adam and Eve, man, who was created in the image of
    God, was separated from God spiritually. At the appointed time God
    became incarnate, took on the form of man, for our redemption and
    salvation. `And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we
    beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,
    full of grace and truth.' (John 1:14). Jesus came forth from God so
    that we could know of and experience God's nature and will. Jesus was
    born so that we might know the extent of God's love. He came to live
    among man to be a model of holiness and by example to show the way to
    live in a way that is pleasing to God.

    In a humble manger in Bethlehem centuries ago, Jesus was born into
    this world as the heavenly host proclaimed `Glory to God in the
    highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men!' (Luke 2:14),
    shepherds came to adore him, and magi came to praise Him bearing gifts
    of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Each year on Christmas we celebrate
    not only the actual Birth of Jesus, we celebrate the true meaning and
    message of Christmas, the Incarnation. On that silent and holy night,
    God became man. He humbled Himself and became like us so that we could
    become more like Him.

    Why did Jesus come in human form? We know that in Old Testament times
    men feared God, trembling when they heard His voice and saw His
    holiness with their own eyes. Christ came as man, in the same form as
    us, so that man could come near to Him, `Therefore, in all things He
    had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and
    faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation
    for the sins of the people.' (Hebrews 2:17) To truly represent
    mankind, to become our substitute and open the way for our salvation,
    Jesus had to become man to experience all that we experience and to
    share in the same conditions as humanity.

    Jesus became incarnate so that we may be sanctified, and He sanctified
    us by paying the penalty for our sins and covering us in His
    righteousness. He came to transform us and give us a life that we
    could not achieve on our own, the fullness of a life with God. He came
    to reconcile us with God and restore us in the image of God. Whoever
    receives Him receives a new life as a child of God.

    Dear Faithful,

    God became man so that we could become more God-like, not in the
    literal sense but by following in His example. To follow in the ideal
    example set forth by our Lord Jesus Christ is to be a person willing
    to put others before ourselves. It is goodwill and charity; charity
    not only as alms-giving, but as agape love. Jesus taught that love of
    God and neighbor is the greatest commandment, and that love
    distinguishes His followers, `A new commandment I give to you, that
    you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one
    another. By this all will known that you are My disciples, if your
    have love for one another.' (John 13:34-35).

    Charity is an essential component of our faith. It is not a duty or
    obligation, rather an expression of brotherly love and compassion.
    God's immense love and compassion for mankind, evidenced by the Birth
    and later crucifixion of His Son, is the ideal that we must all strive
    to emulate by being generous to our fellow man. We cannot profess
    ourselves true Christians if we are not expressing God's love to our
    neighbor. `He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk
    just as He walked.' (1 John 2:6) As children of God created in His
    image, we cannot stand by and let our fellow child of God go without
    if we have the means to help. We must radiate His love through our
    interactions with others and through our goodwill and good deeds.

    As the popular saying goes, `Charity begins at home'. As Armenians, we
    belong to our individual families but we also belong to a larger
    family, a family whose members are scattered throughout Armenia,
    Artsakh and Diaspora communities across the globe but who are always
    near in spirit. As faithful Christians, we must all feel a sense of
    Christian charity and brotherly kindness towards each and every member
    of our family, and especially to those in crisis such as the
    Syrian-Armenian community. The civil strife in Syria rages on to the
    great detriment of innocent civilians caught in the crossfire. As
    winter sets in, the harsh conditions will only worsen and the need for
    aid will greatly increase. Christmas is one of the most joyous days of
    the year. Sadly, for our brethren in Syria and for millions of others
    around the world, the Christmas cheer is dampened by their
    circumstances. As we thank God and enjoy the abundance of blessings in
    our lives this Christmas season, let us do our part as true Christians
    and lift the spirits of the less fortunate by sharing our blessings
    and love and spreading Christmas cheer to as many people as we can.

    The spirit of Christmas is all around us. Joy is in the air, hearts
    are a little warmer, spirits a little brighter. But Christmas is not
    just one day for families and friends to come together to share a meal
    and exchange presents. Christmas is love, caring, and sharing. `For
    God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son...' (John
    3:16), that is the real gift of Christmas. May we sing praises to God
    each and every day of the year for the gift of the Incarnation of His
    Son, and may we proclaim the essence of Christmas in our lives daily
    as we strive to walk in the way of our Lord and bear witness to His
    love and mercy through our charity and compassion for one another.

    On the joyous occasion of the New Year and the glorious Birth and
    Revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, we extend our greetings and
    felicitations to our clergy, councils, parishes, schools, committees,
    and faithful parishioners, praying that 2014 is a blessed year filled
    with the love, peace, and joy of God.

    Happy New Year
    Christ is Born and Revealed
    Blessed is the Revelation of Christ

    Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
    Prelate, Western United States

    New Year and Christmas 2014

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