Christmas messages stress the need for peace, unity and just society
President recalls Jesus' message of peace and reconciliation
President Maithripala in his Christmas message says:
The expectation of Christmas is a promise of new life; a new birth. The Christmas is a season where the message of Jesus on peace and reconciliation reverberates throughout the world. The people around the world celebrate Christmas to mark the arrival of Jesus to enlighten the masses who were in darkness and light up the world with new hopes and aspirations for a joyful future.
Christmas is a season which brings forth a wholesome of goodness of a great visionary. It is the time to fulfill his aspirations. Christmas helps those who thrive to enter in gates of sheer damnation to look back at that narrow entrance to a new meaningful life. Jesus preached to the world full of evil persons attempting to fool others by cunning and shrewd methods that one will not be able to enter the heaven unless they become innocent like children.
May those versus preached for the sake of humanity filled with kindness for the betterment of the word be spread throughout the villages and cities in this Christmas season!
PM calls for unity, brotherhood and amity among all Sri Lankans
PM Ranil Wickremesinghe in his Christmas message says:
Christmas is the season of great joy. It’s a time of remembering the past with hope for the future.
The life of Jesus Christ brought about hope and reconciliation to a fragmented world. It is an opportune time to rid ourselves of divisiveness and bring about a sense of brotherhood and amity among all Sri Lankans going beyond the barriers of caste, creed and language.
Let me wish each of you the joy and peace that the Christ child brings. Have a Blessed Christmas.”
Catholic Bishops' Conference: Alleviate poverty by creating just economic structures
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference in its Christmas message says:
Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem which is God’s loving entry into human history. In this mystery of the Incarnation, God revealed to us the depths of his abounding love for humankind. “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, so that whosoever believes in him may not perish but may have eternal live” (John 3:16)
By this coming into our world, he wants us to share in the fullness of life which he alone can give (John 10/10). Thus, Jesus accompanies us and dwells with us. The name given to Jesus is Emmanuel, which means “God with us”. Hence, our celebration of Christmas cannot and should not be a mere recalling of a past event. It is an occasion to understand more deeply the real value of life and to witness to its fullness in the society we live.
Christmas, therefore, reminds us of the need to invite Jesus into our lives, our families and our society. This seemingly simple birth in a stable in Bethlehem is a universal call towards conversion so that we would be more sensitive to the needs of others irrespective of various differences. Although Christmas is a joyful season, we need to be careful not to make it merely an external celebration. The true and inner joy of Christmas comes from a conversion of heart and accepting Jesus as the Lord and Saviour of our lives.
While we engage in various forms of charitable activities during Christmas, we also have a duty to be more sensitive to the human needs and sufferings prevailing in our country. As Jesus was born among the poor, Christmas invites us to pay careful attention to the poor and be sensitive to the various forms of human needs and sufferings prevailing in our society. The question of poverty can be alleviated only by creating just economic structures. True development of the human beings can happen only in a society where there is mutual respect, justice and peace. A sincere commitment of everyone is needed in creating this environment in our country.
Let us commit ourselves to change all that is not in keeping with God’s holy will in our midst by becoming agents of peace, harmony and reconciliation by forgetting the petty differences which hinder the common good. As we give thanks to God for the beautiful gift of Jesus, let us pray that all of us will be renewed by the Spirit to be His living witnesses.
We wish all our faithful, our citizens and all men and women of goodwill a Blessed Christmas.