The birth of Christ is not just an event of the past, but "a living and present reality," said the Archbishop Aurel Perca, Metropolitan Archbishop of Bucharest, in his public Christmas message, emphasising that a world which excludes God "sinks into darkness, confusion and selfishness."
"Christmas leads us again to the mystery at the heart of our faith: God becomes man. He does not remain distant, nor look down from above, but enters our history, our fragility, the concrete reality of life. He is born in a humble manger to show us that nothing human is foreign to Him. He becomes one of us so that we may never be alone again. He comes especially into the darkness of our lives: into weakness, doubt, suffering, unbelief, and lack of meaning. It is precisely where everything seems to collapse that God begins to build anew," the senior prelate said.
According to Archbishop Perca, Christmas reminds us that hope is not an illusion or fleeting feeling, but a Person - God - who approaches, listens, and remains. "He does not promise a life without the cross, but assures us that no cross is ever borne alone. The light shining from the manger is stronger than any darkness, stronger than sin, fear, war, or death," he stressed, Agerpres informs.
The child in the manger, the Metropolitan added, reveals the true face of God: a God of love, peace, and life.
"This celebration calls us to pause. To be still. To be amazed. Christmas can easily become routine, a mechanical tradition, a pretty decoration without substance. But without a living encounter with God, all remains an empty frame. The essence is not what is on the table, but what is in the heart. Customs are important, but they cannot replace faith. The child in the manger shows us the true face of God: a God of love, peace, and life. He teaches us that true peace is not just calm, but the fruit of truth, forgiveness, and self-giving. Peace requires sacrifice, demands renunciation of selfishness, calls for an open heart," Archbishop Perca emphasised.
He also noted that Christmas is a clear call to defend life and the dignity of every person, and to care for the most vulnerable.
"In the light of the Lord's birth, we are called to open our hearts to the lonely, the sick, the poor, refugees, and the abandoned. God comes to us through them. The God who became a guest in our world teaches us hospitality: to make room for Him in our lives and to make room for others in our hearts. True faith is seen in acts of mercy, in service, in solidarity. Christmas also reminds us who we are. Because God took our humanity upon Himself, human dignity is elevated. Every person has infinite value. To know our identity in the eyes of God can rebuild broken lives, heal wounded relationships, and restore lost hope. No one is excluded. God closes no door," the Roman Catholic prelate added.
Faith is not lived alone but in community, with the Church being the place where God's Word takes flesh and continues to be present in the world, Archbishop Perca pointed out.
"Through the Eucharist, Christ remains with us and teaches us to be 'good as bread,' giving ourselves for others. Christmas calls us to love the Church, even when it is fragile and wounded, for it is the cradle of divine life. Brothers and sisters, a world that excludes God sinks into darkness, confusion and selfishness. But Christmas offers us a new beginning. God does not abandon His creation. He comes again, even when not desired, even when rejected. And He will remain with us after the carols fall silent and the lights go out. Let us welcome Christ, therefore, with open hearts. Let us make room for Him in the fragility of our own 'manger'. Let us become people of hope, peace, and love, so that through us, the light of Christmas may reach others. To all people of goodwill I say: a happy and blessed Christmas!" says Archbishop Aurel Perca.
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