1986 Christmas Message from the Most Rev. Michael G. Peers Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada
https://archives.anglican.ca/link/official6880
- Date
- 1986 November 28
- Source
- Anglican News Service
- Type
- Press Release
- Text of motion
- Toronto - All the symbolism of the original Christmas story proclaims clearly a God acting in love to meet the needs of the poor, the outcast, the homeless. Jesus was born not in a home, but in a stable, in a community strange and confusing to his parents who were running in obedient fear of an oppressive authority.
- Yet all the symbolism of our modern Christmas seems to point to home and hearth, well-being, family, warmth and security.
- Somehow, if Christmas is to have all the reality that it can, we must bridge that gap. Unless we do, our Christmas observances simply reinforce a self-indulgent way of living. Christmas must challenge us to see the world with a fresh vision. It is all too easy to give a toy or contribute to a Christmas-basket-for-the-poor fund. I would not want to make light of those activities, but I also acknowledge that the Christmas Gospel commits us to more than a once-a-year act of charity to the poor.
- Christmas should move us to work for a new world which addresses the root causes of homelessness, poverty, oppression, hunger and violence. It call us - the Babe of Bethlehem calls us - to put together, as did the angels who sang at his birth - the glory of God and the peace of humanity.
- I offer a special prayer at this Christmas tide for all those who will spend the day alone or in poverty; no one knows first hand that loneliness and poverty more than Jesus, and no one can speak more lovingly to you than he can. However, as he speaks to you, I pray also that all of us who are not poor and not alone will also hear his voice.
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- Richard J. Berryman
- Media Officer
- Subjects
- Christmas - Anglican Church of Canada
- Poverty - Canada - Religious aspects - Anglican Church of Canada