en Español (PDF)
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
At Christmas, we give thanks to God for sending His only Son, Jesus, who chose to live like one of us, who showed us the breadth and the depth of His love by embracing the pain of the Cross, crushing the sting of sin and death with new life through the Resurrection.
The manger in Bethlehem awaited love and goodness itself -- Jesus, the Child of Mary. The Son of God is here, among us, and awaits to help us open our own heart to the goodness of this world and of humanity. The Prince of Peace is not concerned with the material riches and power of this world. He wants us to understand that His joy and peace are not the passing moments of Christmas Day, but rather, that they are everlasting truths, no matter what challenges are that we face.
Let us celebrate this gift -- the joy of love that is life itself, which the birth of our Savior affirmed.
Through the intercession of Mary our Mother and Saint Joseph, may their Son, Our Lord Jesus, help us to live as God's holy family at Christmas, throughout the New Year, and all the days of our lives.
In Christ,
† Luis Rafael Zarama, J.C.L.
Bishop of Raleigh