The Diocese of Scranton

One Light Shines Eternally
A Christmas Message From Bishop Martino

My Dear Sisters and Brothers:

In December of 1966, I was a seminarian and looking forward to helping with the Christmas Midnight Mass in my parish. As it turned out, a terrible snow storm blew up on Christmas Eve and made driving to the Midnight Mass impossible. My father and I watched a Mass on television, but we both had a sense that there was sadness in the air. I asked my father why he thought the world seemed uncharacteristically sad that Christmas.. My father offered the opinion that perhaps it was because our nation was at war. In the middle 1960's, the United States intensified its involvement in the warfare in Southeast Asia . Americans that Christmas Day in 1966 were sad because for the first time in a generation Americans and others were dying on the battlefield.

A similar sadness may come over us this year as we survey the world and see the many problems that confront us today. World peace seems as evasive as ever. Brave young men and women are dying on foreign battlefields. Many people in the world are suffering from the effects of corruption, warfare, and lack of food and medicine. So, there may be a sense of sadness at Christmas this year.

However, in the midst of all of our sorrows and fears, one Light shines eternally: Jesus Christ is our ever-present Savior, truly God with us. As we recall our trials this year, let us never forget some simple facts. We have no need to be afraid. Jesus Christ is victorious over all sin and death. Yes, we may sin, but in Jesus Christ, we can be delivered from our sins. Surely, we will pass away some day, but only to open our eyes to the sight of our victorious Savior, if only we do the will of Jesus Christ in this life.

There is a foundational joy in our lives that no sadness in the world can overcome. This year, as we offer the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at Christmas, let us see Jesus as Emmanuel (God-with-us) in the Holy Eucharist. He dwells with us in His Body and Blood to give us a share in his sacrificial death and glorious Resurrection. We can never be perfectly sorrowful, since we are perfectly loved by our Heavenly Father!

May the Mother of Jesus, our Mother Mary, pray for us this Christmas that our faith in her Son will be more intense than ever. In that way, our light, our love, and our peace in Jesus Christ will bring about the same in all others whom we meet. In this manner, sadness will disappear. Lasting hope in Christ will endure.

A blessed Christmas and holy New Year to you, your family members, and all of your loved ones.

Sincerely in Our Lord,

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