CHRISTMAS PROCLAMATION
- Two thousand years ago,
- in the immense and powerful Roman Empire,
- Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken.
- Somewhere in the border region of Palestine,
- a young,humble couple,Mary and Joseph,
- set out from the insignificant town of Nazareth
- and traveled to the town of Bethlehem in Judea.
- There was no room for them in the inn,
- and so Mary gave birth to a son
- and had to put him ia manger.
- An angel said to poor shepherds:
- "That child lying in the manger
- is the Savior born to you and to the world:
- He is Christ the Lord."
- This same news is provlamed to us:
- your Savior is born to you.
- You are happy and you smile.
- But now you must proclaim in word and deed
- that Jesus is your Savior and Lord.
- Let your mercy and love proclaim him.
- Let your sense of justice and fairness proclaim him.
- Let your love and unity proclaim him.
- Let your concern for the poor
- and your welcome to the weak proclaim him.
- Then we can really sing with one voice:
- "Glory to God in the highest
- and peace on earth to those on whom his favor rests"
Fr. Cipriano Bontacchio