Christmas Message of the Presiding Bishop

“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion! For behold, I am coming and I will dwell in your midst, says the Lord.” Zechariah 2:14

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Jesus Christ,

We are celebrating Christmas, a time of joy and wonder at God’s love that has come into the world in the Savior.

Yet for not everyone are these days filled with joy. For some, they are a reminder that they sit alone at the Christmas Eve table. Others feel the loss of a loved one especially deeply at this time. Even more saddening and troubling is the fact that there are places in the world where our neighbors are experiencing the consequences of wars and catastrophes, where there is a lack of food and of safe spaces.

In this world full of suffering and anxiety, God calls us to joy—to cry out with joy, even amid everyday hardships and fears. Have you ever cried out with joy while knowing at the same time that life brings both highs and lows? If so, you know that such joy does not come from our daily circumstances; it does not depend on our successes or achievements. It is a joy that arises from God’s presence.

“I will come and dwell in your midst,” God says to us. This is a promise that strikes at loneliness, anxiety, and loss. Precisely when we feel abandoned, God reminds us that HE IS. He is present in our loneliness, sorrow, danger, and uncertainty. HE IS here, dwelling among us, and He knows each and every one of us. In Christ, He has shown us His face, and through His Spirit He allows us to experience His presence.

On the occasion of Christmas, I wish you the experience of God’s presence, the experience of the Light of the World—Jesus Christ—in every corner of your life.

May God grant you peace and true, deep joy that flows from the awareness that He loves us, forgives us, grants us salvation, and is near. No one and nothing can take this joy away from us!

Presiding Bishop Jerzy Samiec