"God is with us" (Mt 1:23)

1. The birth of Jesus Christ is preceded by angelic annunciation. The angel also appears to Saint Joseph in a dream, encouraging him not to fear taking Mary as his wife, for the life conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. At this moment, the name Emmanuel, meaning "God with us," resonates. This is an extraordinary, supernatural message; it is not something natural because, by all rights, God could be far removed from us.
   Throughout the life of His chosen people, God repeatedly demonstrated that He was with them, even when they did not deserve it or distanced themselves from Him. Through the prophet Isaiah, God even promised the birth of the Son when King Ahaz dared not ask for a sign, fearing that God’s closeness might pose a threat to him.
   The prophecy of the Old Testament becomes reality in the birth of Jesus Christ. At Christmas, we experience God’s love seeking humanity; we witness the wonders of this love. God is faithful to His promise, and even today, He is with us:
   "God is not distant; He is 'Emmanuel,' the God who is with us. He is not a stranger; He has a face—the face of Jesus" (Pope Benedict XVI, Urbi et Orbi blessing, 2010).
   God’s dwelling with us, among us, and within us is not a threat but rather life and a future.

2. In our confused and tumultuous world, amidst war, suffering, and the manifold social, economic, and political injustices, God’s presence may seem illogical, meaningless, and unbelievable. Who governs the world when we see society, under the guise of democracy, striving to exclude God, our values, and our Christian symbols? Who defends us when we are assailed by extreme, selfish, and destructive forces—whether overt or subtle?
   And if external attacks weren’t enough, our Church, our archdiocese, and our communities are being undermined from within by superficiality, materialism, and our own selfishness. How often, like King Ahaz, do we also decide not to choose the path of faith but to live according to the logic offered by the world? Reflecting on the indifference, assimilation, shrinking, and aging of our communities, or on our fellow priests who falter in their pastoral service, we might ask: how can we renew ourselves, what gives us the strength to hope?
   The answer to this question is the message of Christmas: Emmanuel, God with us! He enters our hopeless world out of love and offers us hope. Hope is born of love. Christian hope does not deceive or disappoint because it is founded on the certainty that nothing and no one can separate us from the love of God. Through the birth of Jesus Christ, Emmanuel becomes a reality, for God truly is with us.

    

3. Oh, that we might also be with God! Let us be near Him out of gratitude, dedicating our lives to Him because He is with me, and I want to be with Him. In this spirit, our archdiocese strived in 2024, praying for "hope and a desire for renewal, to draw closer to Him in community."
   This is also the invitation of the holy year 2025: let us be pilgrims of hope! Let us leave behind our comforts, insecurities, fears, frustrations, and wounds. Let us strengthen one another, especially those facing difficulties. Let us stand with those who suffer the most, showing them through our service that God is with them in their suffering, even in the most challenging moments.
   Our presence, our help, our love bring Christmas—the presence of God—closer to those around us who face hopeless situations. Let each of us be like Bishop Márton Áron, who brought love and hope even into the inferno of inhumanity.
   May the life and example of the Blessed Virgin Mary encourage us to live our Christian lives authentically, to walk faithfully in the footsteps of Christ. May she help us embrace the mystery of the birth of Jesus Christ, for she experienced in the most profound way that God is with us.

Alba Iulia, December 25, 2024