Bishop Dodë Gjergji extended his Christmas greetings, calling for prayers for peace, joy, and strength. This year marks the 25th Christmas celebrated in freedom, with festivities taking place in city squares and parish courtyards, bringing people together in joy and harmony.
The Bishop reminded the faithful of the essence of Christmas: the Incarnation of the Word and God’s arrival into the world, quoting the Gospel of John:
“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Reflecting on past hardships, he emphasized resilience and faith in God, as symbolized in the hymn:
“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests” (Luke 2:14).
Bishop Gjergji underlined that Christ is the cornerstone of hope, giving strength amid life’s struggles and purpose to daily sacrifices. He highlighted the spiritual virtues that believers should cultivate, as mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
He urged the faithful to practice their faith within the community through prayer, sacraments, and acts of love, saying:
“We baptized ones believe, witness, and proclaim Christ as Savior because we are the body of Christ and each of us is a member of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27).
The Bishop drew inspiration from the prayers of St. Francis and St. Teresa of Calcutta, encouraging everyone to be instruments of peace, unity, and love. He emphasized that such virtues are gifts of God, recognized only by hearts healed through mercy and minds illuminated by faith.
In his concluding remarks, Bishop Gjergji invited everyone to join in prayer, asking God to fill their lives with peace, joy, and strength, enabling them to fulfill their mission as followers of Christ and to spread His love everywhere.
“May all our prayers and deeds be filled with the grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Merry Christmas. May God bless you all,” he concluded.
