Press Releases22 Dec 05

Archbishop Robin Eames' Christmas Message

When those who came first to the Stable at Bethlehem saw with their own eyes the miracle of Christ?s birth they believed ? but then they moved on ?

This Christmas people of faith see the miracle of the Stable, the birth of Christ and the wonder of it all. They hear again the story and they gaze again at the scene of the Stable. They worship and adore.

But then we have to move on.

We move on in our family life, our everyday life, our relationships and we take up again our hopes and fears for the future. The difference is that we take the miracle of Christ?s birth with us. And it makes all the difference.

Not only on a personal level do we gaze and hear and move on ? but as a community also. The message of love and hope at Bethlehem says it all ? but life goes on. The real test is the difference we feel because of Bethlehem. Can we take that love and hope into 2006 for Northern Ireland? Can we take the real meaning of the Christmas story into how this community moves ahead in the new year?

Once more the possibilities of progress and stability for this whole community beckons us forward. If we can translate the hopes of the Stable into new trust, new possibilities and new hope then as we leave the Stable there is real and genuine reason to look forward to a brighter future for all of us in Northern Ireland ?