The Bishop's 2006 Christmas Message

In the darkness of night and born in the stable, Jesus, our Savior, enters the world.  He arrives in our world in the same circumstances that we find ourselves from time to time:  in the darkness of night and in a strange, inhospitable place.  Through all these circumstances, God comes to lead us from the wilderness in which we often find ourselves entrapped into a land of promise. 

Christmas affords us the opportunity to bring family and friends together to discover again the love and devotion we have for one another.  For some it is a magical time that brings back memories of childhood, gift-giving and the joy of this special season.

As we seek to move on in life, it is important for us to hold on to these memories.  We build upon these precious experiences in order to understand God’s plan for us.  It is also a time when our eyes are opened to see a larger dimension of our present reality.  We become more sensitive to the needs of those who have needs, and we feel compelled to share what we have with those in need.

For me Christmas has always been a very special season.  I remember Christmases long past, especially the peace and joy that were brought to my life during this time. From time to time, I can still smell the wonderful odor of the Christmas tree, long past, which still opens my mind to the beauty of all that God has installed for us.  It opens a way for me to a glorious future.  So when I see the joy of children and others during this time, I am reminded that God has more in store for us than we can imagine or hope for.

In the cold stable in Bethlehem, the Son of God was born so that we might have life in its fullness.  Young Mary and her husband tried to understand the plan of God that was beyond them.  They did not comprehend all that was entailed, but they attempted to live into God’s purpose for them.  By doing so, they helped to open the way of eternal life to us all.

In Bethlehem that first Christmas, heaven and earth came together with a new purpose and a final destiny.  The purpose was to fulfill God’s will for the creation, a purpose that insists on freedom, justice and peace.  The destiny is to be with God forever and to grow more godlike everyday.  Jesus, the Word made flesh, God’s self-expression of God’s self, becomes a realization in our lives and thus things are always being made new and their eternal purpose is constantly being revealed during our life’s journey.

My prayer for you and yours during this Christmastide and throughout the year is that you, like Young Mary, will accept God’s plan for you and that you grow into the fullness that God has planned for each of us.

Wishing you every joy of this special season

The Right Reverend Orris G. Walker, Jr.
Bishop of Long Island