His Eminence
Archbishop Moushegh Mardirossian
Prelate of Western Prelacy
6252 Honolulu Avenue
La Crescenta, CA 91214
818-248-7737 tel
818-248-7745 fax
[email protected]_ (mailto:[email protected])
Prelate’s New Year’s and Christmas Message
FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS
OF THE GOOD SHEPHERDS
`And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keepingwatch
over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the
glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.’
(Luke 2:8-9)
On the threshold of the year 2005, as we exchange good wishes, once again
the feast of the Glorious Birth and Theophany of our Lord Jesus Christ invites
us to renew and reinvigorate our faith and brighten our spirits.
During a holy and silent night in the open weather, the tidings of the birth
of Jesus filled the spirits of the good and humble shepherds and the glory
of the Lord shone around them.
`And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keepingwatch
over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the
glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear.’ (Luke
2:8-9)
What a blessed divine gift!
The shepherds in their solitude, while they were keeping watch over their
flock by night, they were blessed by the visit of the angel. They were greatly
afraid.
***
Dear beloved,
Lately, it seems, more and more people find themselves in the same
predicament as those shepherds. We seem to take upon ourselves serious
responsibilities to keep watch over our families and properties, only to find ourselves
exposed to the open elements of life, oftentimes feeling cold and alone, groping
in the darkness. It begs the very basic question: `What am I doing here, in
this place, cold, alone, and in the dark, and why am I doing it?’
The
answer is found in the Revelation of God.
When we take upon our shoulders the heavy responsibility of shepherding,
whether we shepherd our family, or our business, or our school, or our social
organization, or our political party, or our church, we also receive upon our
shoulders the gentle but guiding Arm of the Lord.
Be assured, my faithful flock, that even if you perceive that you are left
out in the open, cold, alone, or in the dark, that the Lord Himself is
steadfastly beside you always. Our Lord came down from heaven and became man so
that mankind would never abide alone. Our Lord enkindled the flame of truth and
righteousness in our hearts so that our love for one another might never
grow cold. Indeed, the Glory of the Lord has shone upon us, dispelling the
darkness of gloom and directing our ways in faith and peace.
***
As we begin 2005, I wish to engage each and every one of you to be an
active, Christian shepherd.
We are so aware of people in our communities, even within our own families,
who are alone, who are infirm, who are despondent, who are searching for the
Light of God within their lives. I ask each of you: are you able to become a
shepherd to our people? Are you willing to respond to the needs and wants of
our community? Are you ready to join the active mission of the Church, to
serve with righteousness, and to proffer spiritual and meaningful charity?
The shepherds responded to this same call by saying to one another, =80=9CLet us
go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has
made known to us.’ (Luke 2:15)
Come, now, dear shepherds of the Armenian Church, and let us go to
Bethlehem, and see this thing, this great gift of Grace and Hope and Joy which the
Lord shows us daily in our lives through the Holy Bible, the Holy Badarak,and
the Holy Sacraments.
Let us make a spiritual and charitable commitment to extend our love and
assistance to the Church, to our schools, to our organizations, to our
communities across the globe, and to our family and friends. In so doing, may the
Eternal Light, which pierced the darkness of Christmas night, enlighten our
minds and enrapture our hearts.
Let the glad tidings to us and for you all be magnified through our joint
commitment to foster good works and to fortify our Christian fellowship.
On the joyous occasion of the New Year and the Revelation of God, I extend
to our spiritual shepherds, the reverend clergy, and to our community
shepherds, Executive Council, parish boards, the school administrators, teachers, and
to our faithful, benefactors, supporters and the members of our Church, my
fatherly blessings and sincere wishes for the best of health and peace in your
lives, and I thank you for your continued charitable support of our Church,
our Prelacy, our schools and institutions.
Let Christ be revealed in you, that Christ may be revealed through you.
Happy New Year to you all
Christ is born and revealed.
Prayerfully,
Archbishop Moushegh Maridorssian
New Year, 2005 Prelate of
Western Prelacy