CHRISTMAS MESSAGE – 2008
My dear People of God,
Christmas is just round the corner and everybody is preparing to
celebrate this feast. Let’s ask ourselves seriously how are we
preparing for this celebration.
Christmas is a sacred feast commemorating the birth of Christ but
in today’s world, Christmas has become a secular celebration for
many people. In Singapore and in many other countries, streets and
buildings are beautifully decorated and resplendent with lights.
People are busy buying new clothes, preparing sumptuous meals and
arranging parties. These externals can enhance the celebration of
the feast, but concentrating on these externals can divert our
attention from the real meaning of Christmas.
Let us bear in mind. There is no Christmas without Christ and so
Christ must be the center of our celebrations. This means that our
celebration of Christmas must be a celebration of love: “God so
loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son.”
And so our celebration should focus on love. It’s a time for us to
extend our love and friendship, a time to be reconciled, a time to
reach out to the less fortunate – the poor, the sick, the aged, the
lonely, a time to promote peace and harmony.
In the world today unfortunately many are encountering so much
sufferings, merciless killing, financial crisis, immorality,
political crisis… Why so? Because people do not know Christ;
because people refuse to accept Christ: “He came unto His own and
His own received Him not!”
And so, my dear people of God, let us prepare to celebrate
Christmas in the proper way. Make Christ the center of our
celebration. Share Him with others by reaching out in love
especially to those in need. In doing this, Christmas will truly be
CHRIST-mas for us.
A joyous and blessed Christmas and a grace-filled New Year to one
and all.
Devotedly yours in Christ
Archbishop Nicholas Chia
Announcement Date : 2008-12-17