Christmas Message - 2005

Dearly Beloved Brothers and Sisters,

My life has been enriched this year by certain learning experiences. The world is stepping up its call to convince the unsaved population that their eternal life is achieved by the road of good deeds. This very old formula does not take into account the spiritual state of the unsaved. If it were possible to earn our way into heaven, then we would all be working full time towards such an endeavor, not that we should not manifestly enrich our lives with good deeds and approach, as expertly as we can, the standard of purity and current and future innocence.

But, taken alone, there is no way we can ever repay God and satisfy His Standard of Justice by our own good deeds and pathway to purity and current and future innocence, because...we are unable to remove the state of our guilt for past sins committed.

The world wants us to forget our past sins and concentrate on a spiritual building program that serves to convince us that our eternal destiny is assured and that we will land up in the non-smoking section of eternity. This deception is fueled by a state of sinful pride, found in such individuals who accept uncritically what the world feeds them these days. The yoke is burdonsome for such individuals!

The world also has been admonishing the Christian communities to say: "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas". Of course the true greeting is Good Birth of Christ (Kala Christougenna!). But why should we deprive the unsaved population of the GOOD NEWS??? Here is why NOT....

But, God, Who is rich in Mercy, has arranged a perfect solution:

Put your whole Faith and Trust in God and see how He worked out the problem. God sent His Eternal Word, (the LOGOS), the only sinless One into the world to save and redeem sinners and call those individuals who believe with unwavering Faith in His love, His Sacrifice, and His Resurrection from the dead as enumerated in John Chapter 3, verses 16-20 to a new type of life filled with purity and current and future innocence, taken together. (.i.e. a life of repentance)

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.

The LOGOS taught all to perform two commandments:

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

Love your neighbor as yourself.

The Eternal LOGOS said concerning these commandments that All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.

The above commandments, simple in concept, are the answer to world peace, if we will just follow them with a truthful heart. Therefore, to follow it, begins with you and me and is viral in a good way. The more our neighbors imitate us, the more of this evil passion, finally and resolutely so, is defeated in us, as in others. How fast may we spread the good tidings? Spread Christ the Logos to all the world, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Happy Birthday, Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Creator of Heaven and Earth. Glory to Thy Precious Holy Birth.

May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Love of God the Father and the Communion of the Good and Life-Creating Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.