Christmas message from Anglican Bishop James Wong |24 December 2022
Bishop Wong
Jesus Christ born in a human family
My dear brothers and sisters, greetings as we celebrate the birth of Jesus in the Family of Nazareth.
Jesus did not come into the world in a spectacular way, or as a warrior, an emperor... No, no, he is born in a family, in a human family with its ups and its downs.
The Incarnation is a profound mystery with many opportunities for reflection, but we may not always consider the profundity of Jesus' birth into a family. In Nazareth, within the Holy Family, everything happened 'normally', according to the customs of a pious and hardworking Israelite family. Mary, the mother attended to the house chores. Joseph, the father, a carpenter, worked and taught his son his skills. The Holy Family was important and was made up of great saints: Mary, the most holy woman, Joseph, a most righteous man and Jesus. This family, the Holy Family.
The fact that Jesus was born in a human family showed the value that God placed in families. Jesus was both fully divine and fully human. So, it is important for us to perceive His presence in our families. During this Christmas season, let us reflect on the importance of Jesus' family. There are two reasons why this family is important: one being from the divine perspective and the other from the human perspective.
In Jesus’ birth [Immanuel, God with us], God became human to shatter every division that exists between us and Him and among members of our families. It is true that God became human so that we become children of God. The presence of Jesus in a family makes a difference in bringing a divine perspective and inspiration in the human family.
It was necessary for Jesus to become part of a family. Had Him not been part of a family, he would not have fully experienced life as a human. In the Holy Family, as it can be for all of us, the Son of God experienced all of the joy, frustration, peace, pain, and love that are found within a family. God became human and embraced every aspect of the human experience to give us the opportunity to enter into communion with Him.
The time Jesus spent with his family was a time of preparation. While our specific vocations vary, what all of us have in common is a baptismal calling to love. Being fully human, Jesus would have had to learn to love like any other humans would do. The best possible way to learn to love is in the community of love called a family. Jesus must have learned how to give of himself by watching Mary and Joseph give of themselves.
Reflection on the Family of Nazareth is not merely of historical interest but is one showing us how to practice the virtues of family life in our own families here and now. Therefore, Jesus' birth into a family is especially important for us to ponder on in our churches. We are told in the Gospel that the Holy Family pondered their experiences in their hearts. We, likewise, in our churches, must ponder on our experiences to see how God is revealing himself to us in the midst of life in the family. Our churches must be communities of love like the Holy Family was a community of love. In our families we should give of ourselves, and learn to be more self sacrificial as Jesus demonstrated in his family. Jesus gave us the gift of himself.
As we reflect on the meaning of Jesus' presence in his family, let us also reflect on the meaning of his presence in our families and his presence in our churches. Amen!
Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas and a peaceful New Year 2023!
Together for His glory,
Your fellow pilgrim on our earthly journey
The Most Revd James Wong