Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium issued an Encyclical on the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord.
In his message, the Metropolitan of Belgium stressed that “In our busy and difficult life, we are called to rediscover the miracle, to be able to hear the voice of the newborn Christ, to hear His teaching from the humble Manger of Bethlehem. Now God has a human face, a human voice for all to hear, and the words of His love resonate throughout the world”.
He also urged all the faithful to “pray to our newborn Lord and Savior for the entire world plagued by the pandemic, for the sick, the bedridden, the homeless, the prisoners, the needy, those suffering from loneliness, and those in war zones and fleeing”.
Read below the Encyclical of Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium:
My beloved in Christ,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.”
This is the angelic message to all mankind. It has a special meaning today for all the peoples of the earth, as many people are faced with confusion, fear, uncertainty, deadly conflicts, exploitation of their lives, and most recently the sad consequences of the pandemic.
Let us not forget that God entered time and history with His Divine Incarnation. In this way, God took on our weak and vulnerable nature. The newborn Christ in the Manger holds in His hands the secrets of His creation, of the universe, and of His benevolent love. In the cold night of Bethlehem that carries the treasure of the world, the Mother of God and Lady Theotokos, wander the city looking for a suitable place to give birth to the One who will change the history of the world.
The Lord says, “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls” (Matt. 11.29). Everyone knows how humble and simple the Lord was, from His birth to His suffering on the Cross. Therefore only humble and simple souls can meet and get to know the humble Jesus and find near Him rest, peace, and true joy. By our own example and our prayers, let us help others discover and meet the Savior Christ to receive Him and enlighten their souls. Only then can they taste the true joy and peace it offers us. Only then can they be saved.
Especially during the Holy Holidays let us help our fellow humans who are sick and suffering. Let us unite our forces and support them in the most effective way. Let us pray to our newborn Lord and Savior for the entire world plagued by the pandemic, for the sick, the bedridden, the homeless, the prisoners, the needy, those suffering from loneliness, and those in war zones and fleeing. Let us also pray for all the desperate, who ignore the existence of the true God and are still in darkness.
In our busy and difficult life, we are called to rediscover the miracle, to be able to hear the voice of the newborn Christ, to hear His teaching from the humble Manger of Bethlehem. Now God has a human face, a human voice for all to hear, and the words of His love resonate throughout the world.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
With paternal wishes
Metropolitan Athenagoras of Belgium, Exarch of Netherlands and Luxembourg
