Merry Christmas!
Christmas is here again, and with it, the memories and imagination of family, joy, sadness, grief, melancholy, Hope, etc. For many, perhaps the stress of consumerism and the idols our culture has immortalized might be too much to endure and one might be tempted to escape into the dark places; depression, resentment, confusion and isolation!
Once more, I am reminded of the message of the angel to Mary this Christmas in the gospel according to Saint Luke 1:36-37 – “she who was called barren” is barren no more, for “nothing will be impossible with God.” Earlier, in verse 30-31, the Angel had greeted the virgin Mary with the words: “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God and behold, you will conceive …”
In my judgment, a human can only access the past through memory and the future through imagination, essentially drawing symbols and metaphors of victimism or victory from these.
This Christmas season, as we look again to the horizon of a new year, may we find comfort and hope in the words of Christ our Redeemer, conveyed and proclaimed by the angels, immortalized through Calvary: 1) Do not be afraid 2) you will conceive 3) you have found favor with God 4) nothing will be impossible with God.
Truly, the Christmas message is a message of “Barren No more!” the gospel story is a story of “Barren no more!” For God has incarnated humanity; Rejoice, Oh Rejoice! Emanuel Has Come to thee O Israel! God is with us
Brothers and Sisters, the end of my letter is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned
These words, I carefully and prayerfully commit to you in love. But unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Our entire team express our deepest gratitude to you the kind hearted people who contributed your time, passion and resources towards our being and becoming.
In faith and verity,
Always, Still becoming,
Rev. Dr. Daniel & Sara, Zopoula