My Dear Brothers and Sisters: As you know, our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II has declared the period of time from October 2004 until October 2005 as the Year of the Eucharist. We have been asked to look anew at our Christian existence from the point of view of our relationship to the Eucharist, the source and summit of the church’s worship, life and mission. How blessed we are to reflect on the Holy Eucharist at this Christmas season.

Christmas means simply that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, while remaining divine, took on our human nature and was born of the Virgin Mary. He truly is Emmanuel, God among us. The world tells us that Christmas is simply about love, peace, family, gift-giving and joyful feelings. Yes, Christmas includes all of these qualities, but only because it is Jesus’ birthday. It is He who is perfect love, our lasting peace, the center of our family, the source and inspiration of all gifts, and our true, never ending joy!

Jesus’ gifts to us of perfect love, peace and joy will not pass away at the end of this season. They are not merely memories from the distant past. They are always present to us because He is always present to us – in the Eucharist! Every time we participate in Mass we enter into Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. We truly receive His Body and Blood, not merely symbols of His life. In a sense, at every Mass, Jesus is born to us anew. We experience through this most Blessed Sacrament the same presence He brought to the world when He was born of the Blessed Virgin Mary on that first Christmas.

Through the help of the Holy Spirit and the intercession of the Mother of God, may this year’s celebration of the Eucharist on Christmas Day be especially prayerful and reflective for us. We are grateful to the Father in Heaven for sending us His Son, Jesus. Through the Eucharist all of our desire to be thankful is joined to the perfect praise offered to the Father by Jesus. What greater joy can we have?

I want to assure all the members of my new family here in the Diocese of Scranton that I will remember them in my prayers this Christmas Day. God bless you abundantly for all that you do to serve Him!

Sincerely in Our Lord,

Most Reverend Joseph F. Martino, D.D., Hist. E.D.
Bishop of Scranton