From the Nineveh Plain: Christian Iraqis focus on light in the darkness
One beautiful sign of hope is the opening of a new church in Erbil, where the first Masses were to be celebrated at Christmas.
One beautiful sign of hope is the opening of a new church in Erbil, where the first Masses were to be celebrated at Christmas.
"Let us pray that the hearts would be filled with the hope emanating from his wondrous and miraculous birth of the Prince of Peace, Lord Jesus Christ.”
As the hands of the clock move and its ticks are heard repeatedly, an implicit announcement is made marking the end of the year 2021 and the emergence of the glaring rays of the sun of the new year, namely 2022.
The year 2021 left behind sufferings and pains that are sometimes incurable resulting from the Corona pandemic and its variants as well as the ramifications of the disease represented by unemployment, poverty, violence, and despair in addition to wars and forcibly displacements that result in economic and social hardships.
The date December 25 is not like any date. This very day celebrated every year is not like any other day. It is a day which marks bringing about a radical change in the course of life in Earth. It is the birth of the Savior in Bethlehem whose name is Emmanuel, which means "God is with us."
In a few days, the world will welcome a new year, namely 2022. With the start of this new year, the world will heave a sigh of relief. At last, the year 2020 is over with hopes that all this year's disasters that have wreaked havoc on various walks of life will be over.
Caritas is a German word which means love. This word "Caritas" was borrowed to mark the establishment of the most noble charity and humanitarian institution in the world. It is Caritas Internationalis.
God created the world out of love and, in face of man’s sin, He decided to redeem him, also out of love. And to do so, He designed a salvific plan. And He wanted man to take part in that plan, but the plan was unthinkable for man himself, as it was so grandiose and divine. And so He did it. He decided to send His Sone to make Himself one of us. But for a God made man a Mother was needed, and He made Her.
"Glory to God in the highest Heaven, and on Earth peace to those on whom his favor rests." (Luke 2:14)
In current times, haste increases, leaving many to underappreciate the time we are given, and in such times pictures and images are becoming more and more popular; they are stories told in silence, capable to leave an eternal mark in the hearts and the souls.
We have already entered the strong time, the Advent. It is a very special time in which we are called to contemplate the mystery of the Incarnation, in the splendor of the full moon night in which the Son of God becomes flesh and has chosen to become one of us, to dwell among us! This is wonderful and comes out of our small capacities to fully understand this event.