Bishop’s message of inclusivity and solidarity for Christmas

Apostolic Administrator Bishop Charles Scicluna has called for reflection on the persecution of Iraqi Christians and the violation of their dignity, in a message of tolerance and mercy for Christmas.

Harking back to the Christmas Truce of 1914, when British and French soldiers emerged from the trenches for a game of football with their German nemesis, Scicluna said that the gesture should prompt people to reflect upon the situation of the world and how fellow Christians were now victims of persecution and of war.

“On this Holy Night of Christmas 2014, the churches in Mosul, Iraq, have been transformed into prisons where there is torture, and man’s dignity is violated. This makes us sad, yet we must not lose heart. In our own small way, let us ask ourselves: what are we doing to make one another welcome, so that we may live in a society and a world which encourages tolerance, solidarity, authentic mercy and peace? Let us pray that among us, there may be more authentic joy.”

In a recorded message from the live crib in Lija, Scicluna invited listeners to reflect upon the stable at Bethlehem that was the birthplace for Jesus of Nazareth, to put forward the question: “How are we going to respond to the Lord this Christmas? Please God, every Christian will have the opportunity to receive the sacraments of Confession and Holy Eucharist, as a sign that he has welcomed the Lord into his heart.”

In another reflection, Scicluna called on people to consider whether they had opened their hearts to their fellow men, “possibly even those who we don’t agree with or those we view as being completely different to us…”

“Indeed, we need to become an inclusive society: much in the same way as Our Lord embraced our humanity and became man, so we too must have an all-encompassing love that welcomes everyone.”