| San Cristobal De Las Casas (Fides Service) - In his Christmas Message “Jesus hope of new life”, Bishop Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel of San Cristobal De Las Casas, Chiapas (Mexico) underlined the great value of Christmas celebrations despite social tension and many difficulties facing the poor in particular.
In the Message the Bishop reflected on the main problems in his diocese and in Mexico in general (rising migration in search of better living conditions, lack of confidence in government and politicians, anti-religious secularism, divorce , etc) which are in contrast with the message of peace, hope and justice brought by the Infant Jesus. Bishop Felipe Arizmendi Esquivel said: “When Jesus is accepted in hearts and minds as the only Saviour and Liberator, the only way, light and life, the new world announced by the prophets is realised: ‘The lowly will ever find joy and the poor rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. For the tyrant will be no more and the arrogant will have gone: all who are alert to do evil will be cut off, those whose mere word condemns a man, who ensnare his defender at the gate, and leaves the just man with an empty claim.’ (Is 29,19-21).”
The Bishop urged Catholics to pray that hatred, division, injustice, oppression, envy and mistruth, corruption and will be eliminated and that the people may enjoy the peace and fraternity, brought by the Infant Jesus. May the good news announced by the shepherd be for us too: “Let us make room for Jesus so he may be born and live in our hearts, our families, in society, in politics, in legislation, in the economy, in international relations, world organisations... so that Christmas is not a shiny empty glass ball, but a message of hope for better times for the poor”.
The message ends with the wish that Jesus may be the star which guides, the Word which illuminates, the light which shows us the right path of life and stops us from being seduced by messages of advertising, disordered passions of soul and body. So we may remain strong in our faith and bowing with humility before the Lord present in the Sacraments, truly living in the Eucharist, we may serve him in the poor, the sick, the elderly, prisoners, immigrants, disabled persons and indigenous peoples.(Fides Service).
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