Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Bishop Jamal D’aibes issued Christmas Message 2022 on Friday, December 23, 2022.

In the message, he says: “At Christmas, we take the initiative to head to the grotto of the nativity in churches. We stop for a moment, praying before the child of the grotto and before His Mother Mary, and feel peace and joy with the birth of baby Jesus. The birth of every child is a cause of happiness and joy for families, yet the birth of Jesus is a cause of joy for all human beings.

He added, the angles bring forth the good news: “‘I bring you the good news that will cause great joy for all the people.’And the angels sing, Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.’ It is the good news from heaven to the people living on Earth. It is good news of peace, and salvation. This is what we fee, we witness, and what we proclaim to all people.”

 He continued: “But if we go out outside the grotto, we feel injustice, evil, and tension. Joseph and Mary, who was pregnant with Christ, had to make a journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and she could not find a place to give birth to her son, as she did so in a cave. Then we see the unjust Herod who was disturbed by the birth of Jesus, while the city of Jerusalem was also disturbed  as he orders the killing of the children of Bethlehem, so the Holy Family flees to Egypt, and after years the Family returns to Nazareth.”

Bishop D’aibes adds, “The story relevant to the birth of baby Jesus 2,000 years ago is a sign of joy and peace in a troubled world. Our celebration of Christmas today is also a sign of joy and peace in a perturbed world. However, the message of this birth remains the same as is in the past and as is today. It is a message of joy indicating that Jesus was born for us and that the Savior became human like us and for our sake. It is a message that we live and spread in our midst and around us.

Bishop Jamal D’aibes added: “In these days, we turn to everyone in need, to everyone in pain, and  bring them the peace and joy of Christmas. And to all the fearful and the perturbed we say: Do not be afraid, for Christ was born, He is Emmanuel, God is with us. After we exchange the feast greetings, let us convey joy with a sincere smile, and let us bring peace and harmony into our communities and society, and let us welcome the Child and His Mother with pure hearts.”

 He continued: “As for our dear homeland, Jordan, which passes through delicate circumstances, we pray, and plead the Almighty God to protect His Majesty King Abdullah II, his crown prince, and the dear Hashemite family. We plead with God to grant His Majesty the King the wisdom and strength so as to leads the march to goodness and prosperity. We also pray that the pure souls of the martyred Public Security Department rest in peace. May their sacrifices be a light and a blessing that overshadows dear Jordan and their families. As we convey our condolences, we pray that tranquility and unity will prevail in our extended Jordanian society.”

Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Jordan Bishop Jamal D’aibes concluded his message for Christmas 2022, by saying: “And to our beloved ones, we wish them and their families a merry Christmas filled with peace, and a blessed new year with the intercession of Blessed  Mary.

Merry Christmas

By Munir Bayouk | en.abouna.org