“Neither the Herods nor the Pilates of this world can absolutely change the course of human history. For the true destiny of the world is not written in the palaces of power, but in people’s hearts,” conveyed His Grace Bishop Macarie of Northern Europe in his Christmas encyclical.
“In the depths of each heart lies the balance that tips either towards evil or good, depending on whether we listen to the voice of the tempter or the gentle, yet firm, voice of conscience.”
“Brother and sister, let us not forget that every act of love, every word of comfort, and every moment of attention to those in suffering are rays of light that dispel the darkness of this world. Let us remember that the peace of Christ begins in our hearts, and through us, it can bear fruit throughout the world,” His Grace encouraged.
“If we do not have eyes and soul for our neighbour, then we do not see Christ, who reveals Himself, mysteriously, discreetly, humbly, in His lesser and needy brothers.”
Peace That Dwells in the Heart
“We see how, in our days, nations rush upon nations, and peace has been taken from us. People are gripped by anxiety and turmoil. Some feel powerless in the face of evil, and others live under the burden of fear that our present is heading towards collapses that could affect the country or even all of humanity,” the hierarch observed.
“But amidst these trials, let us not lose our faith! Let us turn with all our hearts to God, the source of true peace. Let our prayer be fervent, our love for our neighbour more alive, and our hope remain unshaken. For Christ has promised us: I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20).”
“There is only one Lord of Peace! This is the Saviour Jesus Christ! And His peace is the peace of the heart, spiritual peace. His peace is not a treaty or an agreement between hostile camps. His peace is not a compromise with the powers of darkness. His peace is His Victory!” added His Grace.
“And in this world, the Victory of Christ is the Victory through the Cross. It is the victory of the martyrs, those who live piously, those who choose the narrow path of struggle and repentance, and heart-piercing. Jesus’ victory does not mean subjugation of others, nor domination.”
“It means liberation from the tyranny of injustice, from the cage of social and economic arrangements in which we are trapped, from the world, from passions, from the devil,” explained the Romanian Orthodox Bishop of Northern Europe.
“But the peace brought by Jesus Christ transcends war, both seen and unseen, in which the world struggles. It is a peace that dwells in the heart of the believer, even if that person is amid disturbances and trials.”
Change the World Through the Holy Spirit
“The reason the world remains mired in wars and injustices is, of course, that the good news of the Lord’s Birth has not been and is not accepted by those who do not want the Light, Peace, and Love brought by the One who became Man for our salvation,” His Grace noted.
“But even more important than this stubborn refusal of God’s outstretched hand towards man is our spiritual state as Christians and disciples of Christ. Among us, there should not be what is in the world.”
“We should be the ones who change the face of the world through the work of the Holy Spirit, not the world defacing us in its image through the devastating spirit of secularization, that is, moulding after the image of this world. We should live the Gospel in such a way that its fruits are evident,” further transmitted His Grace Bishop Macarie.
“For the only real and lasting transformation of the world is worked through the Holy Spirit, and any other path is merely an illusion. Moreover, it is a form of spiritual illusionism, a subtle strategy of deception, by which we are made to expect salvation where it will never come: from false messiahs, who can only offer empty and soul-destroying promises.”
“Yes, we feel that peace has been taken from the world. Indeed, there is less and less goodwill among people. But Christ is here, among us, and He gives us peace and goodwill if we open the eyes of our hearts to see Him, listen to Him, and follow Him!” concludes the bishop of Romanians living in Scandinavia.
Photo: Facebook / Diocese of Northern Europe
