Press Releases21 Dec 04

Joint Christmas message from the Bishops of Kilmore

CHRISTMAS MESSAGE 2004
Issued jointly by
The Right Revd Leo O'Reilly
and
The Right Revd Ken Clarke

2004 is nearly over. What a year it has been! Many of us hoped and prayed for a deal in Northern Ireland and the cementing of a stable agreement between the various political parties. We are so near yet still so far away?but not as far as this time last year! Significant and substantial progress has been made and we appear to be on the threshold of an historic agreement, despite all the setbacks. We trust the next few months will see further progress.

Which personal memories of this year will be foremost in our minds as we meet for Christmas services and at family gatherings? For some this year has been a year of great excitement as exams were passed, a new job was found, a family wedding happened, a special birthday was celebrated. For others this year will be remembered for very different reasons. It has been a year of unexpected bereavement, a serious illness, a financial crisis, a major disappointment. For contrasting reasons 2004 will occupy our memories.

On a world perspective many will remember 2004 as the Year of the Olympics. Athens really was ready in time despite all the anxieties and worries. Others will remember this year as a year of elections. Many will remember 2004 as a year of violence. How will the people of southern Russia in Beslan be feeling this Christmas as they remember the horrors of the occupation of the school their children attended and the subsequent horrors of murder and mayhem? How will the families of murdered hostages be feeling this Christmas? What about the families of all those who are personally involved in the conflict in Iraq? What are the thoughts of many Palestininans and Israelis as they move towards the end of another year of division, suspicion and violence?

Isn?t it extraordinary that 2000 years ago the Prince of Peace was born into the violence and occupied territories of that same part of the world? His birth was in poverty. His parents were far from home. His country was divided. 33 years later he died a gruesome violent death through the lack of moral courage on the part of the political authorities and because of the narrow prejudice and sectarianism of religious people. In some ways nothing much has changed in terms of the capacity of human beings to get things wrong. Nothing much has changed regarding the dark side of human nature. It is what the theologians call original sin.

Yet in another sense everything has changed and this is why we celebrate at Christmas. Into this world of violence and cruelty comes someone who shows us a better way?yes, it is the way of the Cross but this in itself is the way of hope life and an incredible awesome new quality of love?it is a love which wears the clothes of grace and truth. This Jesus love is a love which demonstrates that God cannot love us more and He will not love us less. St. Paul got it absolutely right??while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.?

Christmas is a time for saying thank you. He really did give His life that we might live. Thank God for his indescribable gift, the gift of his only son Jesus Christ? the light of the world, the hope of the world, the Saviour of the world. Whatever memories of 2004 we carry into this Christmas please remember that the one born in Bethlehem, who died on the cross and was raised from the dead, still walks with His people.

?O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.?

A very very happy Christmas to each one from both of us!