Embrace the spirit of giving and care
THE message is good news, but we have to live it.
The life and death of Nelson Mandela reminds us that goodness is life-giving to everyone.
The reaction of people all over the world to this man and what he did is not because he was black, or because he was unjustly incarcerated or because he was a President, but because he was a thoroughly good man who lived out the command of Jesus Christ ‘‘to love one another’’.
Something of that wonderful spirit is in our streets and shops and our workplaces at the moment, because it is Christmas.
Somehow we all want to be a little kinder, to re- member those who need us, to thank the people who love us and even to forgive those who have offended us, ’cause it is Christmas.
Now we are asked to remember that the birth of CHRIST is what CHRISTmas really is.
We are celebrating the birthday of Jesus, the Son of God and son of Mary, who brought love and forgiveness to the world.
Let us pray that we might have something of the courage and integrity of Nelson Mandela to live what we believe.
Please feel free to join us for any or all of the Christmas Masses. — Bishop Eugene Hurley, Catholic Diocese Darwin