For today a great Light has shone down upon the Earth
23. Dezember 2013
Midnight Mass 2012 (Photo: Liore Pasco)
Dear friends of Dormition Abbey and Tabgha Priory,
Come you nations, worship the Lord, for today a great light has shone down upon the earth!
So we sing at Christmas in the liturgy of the Latin Church, as celebrate the revelation of the gospel of peace and reconciliation. The great light is of course Christ himself, who is forever the light of the world. He is the Gospel incarnate, who comes to help us in our poverty, for as we sing in the English Christmas carol, O Little Town of Bethlehem:
“The hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight.”
As St. Paul said, Jesus is God’s “yes” to us and it is therefore through him - praying in his name - that we can say “amen”, “yes”, to God. In this year of Pope Francis’ election let us listen to our new pope’s constant call to return to Christ. Let give ourselves wholly to him for the spread of this gospel of peace and reconciliation that was proclaimed at his birth, manifested at his epiphany and confirmed forever in his death and resurrection at Easter.
And this Christmas let us dedicate ourselves still more intensely to praying for and fostering peace; let us remember especially the vast multitude of Syrian refugees, suffering so terribly during this unusually bitter winter in the Middle East; and let us never forget the words that the adult Christ proclaimed here, on Mt Zion: “Love one another as I have loved you.”
We the monks of Dormition Abbey and Tabgha Priory wish you, and all who belong to you, a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful and Blessed New Year. We will carry you with us not only to Bethlehem but in our prayers, throughout the coming year.
Abbot Gregory Collins OSB