The Christmas message of Archbishop Paolo Pezzi of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of the Mother of God for Bishop Ivan Laptev and Bishop Emeritus Arri KugappiDear Bishop Ivan,
Dear Bishop Arri,
“How could he have shown his mercy more clearly than by taking on himself our condition? For our sake the Word of God became as grass. What better proof could he have given of his love? Scripture says: ‘Lord, what is man that you are mindful of him; why does your heart go out to him?’ The incarnation teaches us how much God cares for us and what he thinks and feels about us. We should stop thinking of our own sufferings and remember what he has suffered. Let us think of all the Lord has done for us, and then we shall realize how his goodness appears through his humanity. The lesser he became through his human nature the greater was his goodness; the more he lowered himself for me, the dearer he is to me. ‘The goodness and humanity of God our Savior have appeared,’ says the Apostle.
Truly great and manifest are the goodness and humanity of God. He has given us a most wonderful proof of his goodness by adding humanity to his own divine nature.”
St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Sermon 1 on the Epiphany.
[English translation: Office of readings for 29 December, “Liturgy of the hours,” vol. 1, p. 447]
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
Paolo Pezzi