H.L. Bishop Micallef's Message : Christmas 2000

H.L. BISHOP FRANCIS MICALLEF'S MESSAGE
The Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 will close on the 6th of January 2001.
The Great Jubilee Year 2000 was intended to be a Holy Year, a Year of Grace, a Year of conversion, a Year of Christian renewal.
As the Jubilee Year 2000 is nearing its end one cannot but realize that yes it has been a time of many blessings in the life of individuals of all professions and from all walks of life. It has seen many celebrations all over the world marking Christ's 2000th birthday to help individuals and ecclesial communities renew their commitment to be faithful to Him. It was meant to be a great celebration of the salvation which God, out of His merciful love, offers to all humanity.
Alas! The year 2000 has also recorded many human tragedies, natural calamities, and disasters in spite of many technological advancements. Many lives have been lost. Even after 2000 years of Christianity, walls of division, of rivalries between ethnic groups and religious communities still have to be pulled down to bring about what St. Paul had augured the formation of one people in the Lord Jesus (cf Rom 3:30). Peace, social stability, the fight against poverty, the preservation of the natural environment, justice and brotherhood remain the desired achievement through the unified efforts of governments, international institutions and the Church.
In celebrating the Jubilee of the Holy Year 2000, the whole Church has become more aware of her commitment to pass on to others the light and the joy of the faith in Jesus of Nazareth, true God and perfect Man. To this high ideal the whole people of God must be educated. By so doing, the Church opens wider the prospect to all peoples of being 'divinized' and thus of becoming more human. During this time of grace of the Holy Year 2000 the Church, led by the Holy Father, has become particularly aware that all her forces must be committed to the new evangelization.
No believer, no institution in the Church can avoid this supreme duty to proclaim Christ to all peoples. We Christians must be deeply convinced of the fact that evangelization is also a valuable service to humanity, since it prepares it to achieve the plan of God, who wishes to unite to Himself all men and women and render them a people of brothers and sisters liberated from all injustices and filled with feelings of authentic solidarity. "
May the light of Bethlehem shine on the face of every human being throughout the World", so prayed our Holy Father Pope John Paul II on 1st of January 2000, as he urged us all to set out in the footsteps of Christ at the dawn of the new millennium. We cannot do better than to repeat it now, this Christmas 2000. Whether we are in joy or sorrow, may Jesus be the companion of our way: "Jesus Christ, yesterday, today, and the same forever." (Heb.13:18)
May we by the strength of the Spirit of God live up to the high expectations engendered by the celebration of the Great Jubilee of the Holy Year 2000.
May the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave Jesus to the world 2000 years ago, help all believers to give the world to Christ.
I wish you all God's blessings during this special Christmas Season and throughout the New Year 2001.

Bishop Francis Micallef OCD

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