On December 25, Patriarch John X of Antioch celebrated the Divine Liturgy in the Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Damascus. In his homily, the Patriarch highlighted the joy as main the message of Nativity.
“Our liturgical services are full with these words: light, joy, gladness. For Nativity is a theophany where God reveals His love for humankind. God did not leave the human being to die in sin; He promised a Savior. God fulfilled this promise and sent His Only Begotten Son to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary. He was born a Child like us, except that He did not sin, for He wanted to save us and restore the first call that He desired for us. The day of Nativity is strongly the day when divine love is manifested. Today, it is like we hear a voice from heave, the voice of our Holy God that says to us humans: I love you, for your sake I came here. It is so nice to remember that God calls you and says: I love you”.
The Patriarch recalled the divine work for redemption thorough Incarnation and crucifixion followed by the resurrection and God’s love for mankind.
“Therefore, the real cave is when we open up our hearts for this Divine Child coming to be born of the Virgin Mary to dwell there… The salvific event is divine; it happens in our heart and stays with us every day. If we receive the Newborn Child in our hearts Nativity is because we made Christ dwell in our hearts. Thus, it is perpetuated and then we remain in this renewal and the face of Christ shine on our faces to the ends of the earth”.
The Patriarch prayed for peace and prosperity in Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Iraq, and all the countries of the East. He prayed for all those in trouble, for those who mourn, who are sick, who suffer, who are hurt, who are misplaced and kidnapped, especially remembering our brothers Bishops Youhanna and Paul of Aleppo.
He finally gave his greetings to the president and all the Arab people, especially the Antiochian Christians all over the world.
Source: Patriarchate of Antioch