Christmas Season 2022: 'We can become God's presence to others'

At Christmas, we remember that "the Word became flesh and lived among us," says Cardinal John Dew in his Christmas message for 2022. 

The Archbishop of Wellington, who also serves as President of the New Zealand Catholic Bishops' Conference, reminds us that God's Word, God Himself, is at the heart of our lives and of our journey of faith. "We have God with us, Emmanuel, God, Who is passionately concerned about our lives and engaged in them." 

At the same time, we, too, "can become the presence of Christ to others," the Cardinal says. "Whenever you show compassion and tenderness, whenever you brighten the daily dreariness of others or support their faltering steps, you are showing the goodness and love of God."

Cardinal John Dew's Christmas Message for 2022
 

Tēnā koutou. Tēnā koutou. Tēnā koutou katoa [Maori greeting]. Greetings and all good wishes from New Zealand. I am Cardinal John Dew, the Archbishop of Wellington, New Zealand, and it is a great delight to send a Christmas message.

As you know, in a few days we will remember again that the Word became flesh and lived among us. Amid our Christmas festivities and families and communities, we will hopefully pause from time to time and give thanks for God's Word, Jesus, who lives among us.

The Word became flesh and lived among us.

At the heart of our lives, at the heart of our journey of faith, are not ourselves and our own words and thoughts. At the heart of our lives as God's Word and God Himself. Jesus has made known to us the face of God Who cares for us in our needs. Who takes to his heart our destiny. Who follows our every step. God is no cold, detached bystander. We have God with us, Emmanuel, God, Who is passionately concerned about our lives and engaged in them.

The wonderful blessing is that we can become the presence of Christ to others. Whenever you show compassion and tenderness, whenever you brighten the daily dreariness of others or support their faltering steps, you are showing the goodness and love of God.

Thank you for the ways you rekindle the hope of those who struggle. Thank you for helping others to find joy in times of sorrow. For bringing light to the lonely and for being the presence of Jesus, the Word Who became flesh and lived among us.

Christ is born for us. And through us, Christ is born for others. I take this opportunity to wish you every joy and every blessing for Christmas and for 2023. May this be a time of deep peace, of great joy, and of abundant blessings.