Patriarch Daniel’s Christmas Message 2022: The Almighty became a humble Child. Innocence is His power now

In a video message for this year’s feast of the Nativity of the Lord, the Patriarch of Romania recalled that the Infant Jesus is “the peaceful joy that gushes forth from God’s humble and merciful love,” which calls us to show humble and merciful love towards our neighbours.

Patriarch Daniel’s Message for Christmas 2022 and the New Year 2023

The Nativity of Jesus Christ, or the coming of the Messiah/Christ, was foretold by the biblical prophets many centuries before.

The Prophet Isaiah (7:14) foretold seven hundred years earlier that Christ would be born of a Virgin and would be called “Emmanuel” or “God is with us”. So, the Messiah is both true God and true man.

The Prophet Micah (5:2) foretold seven hundred years earlier that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem of Judea and that his origins are “from ancient times,” that is, He is an eternal divine Person Who became human.

The preparation of humankind for the coming of Christ has been long – countless generations from Adam to Abraham and 42 generations from Abraham to Christ (for almost 2000 years). Why? Because it was necessary to realise that the world sickened by the sin of man’s disobedience to God needed a Healer, and mortal humans needed a Conqueror of death through resurrection.

The Feast of the Lord’s Nativity shows us, first of all, that Christ’s almighty and eternal love is also humble and merciful.

The invisible and uncircumscribed Son of God, the King of glory, who rules over the whole Universe, becomes a little Child in the womb of the Virgin Mary. He is born in a poor cave and laid in a manger.

The Almighty became a humble and delicate Child, wholly reliant on the love and care of those around Him. His power is now His innocence or blamelessness.

Yet the angels in heaven bring Him hymns of praise as a Master, and the Magi from the East bring Him gifts as a King. Thus, the Child-God or Infant Jesus is the joy of angels and humans, the peaceful joy that springs from God’s humble and merciful love.

The feast of Christmas calls us all to show humble and merciful love to those around us, in word and deed, through carols and gifts, in order to bring joy and peace to people’s souls and homes, to the glory of God and the delight of the people.

On the Holy Feasts of the Nativity of the Lord, the New Year 2023, and the Baptism of the Lord, we wish you all good health and happiness, peace and joy, together with the greeting: Happy New Year!

† Daniel
Patriarch of Romania

Photography courtesy of the Lumina Newspaper / Luigi Ivanciu

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