Metropolitan of Chisinau and All Moldova Vladimir says that on the feast of the Nativity of the Savior's Child his thoughts turn to everyone - to those at home and to those far away, in the diaspora, with the paternal exhortation to cultivate goodness. "Let us draw closer to our Savior Jesus Christ by lifting up our minds, by opening our hearts and souls, by prayer and communion with Him in the Holy Mass - urges the Most High in his pastoral letter on the Nativity of the Lord.
Metropolitan Vladimir points out that the celebration of the Nativity of the Lord cannot only mean putting on new clothes to look festive, nor preparing meals to feast the womb. Let us think of those who have neither a festive garment nor an everyday garment. Let us not eat our fill without having satisfied someone's hunger.
True feasting is first and foremost an awareness of the call by the Son of God to this work of doing good, of being in solidarity, of bringing reassurance, encouragement, hope and peace to those strangled by the tragedy of their lives.
"Whatever you do to men, even to the 'least' of men, you do to Me, says the Lord in the Holy Gospel. Let us learn to do good. Let us do good and then the light brought into someone's life will light our way to Christ, just as the star once guided those who sought the Child to bring him gifts. Beyond the profound theological meaning of the gifts brought by the Magi, this very moment of their bringing, carefully noted by the Evangelist Matthew, is meant to tell us that we are truly Christians when we give people the spiritual gifts and material gifts necessary for their lives", the pastoral letter says.
The archbishop notes that every gift must also be given with self-giving, which banishes any self-interest and keeps in our hearts only the pure desire to live the commandment of the Lord, which teaches us to love our neighbor as ourselves.
"May our souls overflow with love and may goodness permeate us everywhere: in public and private institutions, in kindergartens and schools, in hospitals and asylums, in prisons and everywhere in our country and in the world. Whether we work there or just visit them, let us make them clean and holy places, where there is no envy, hypocrisy, corruption and other moral depravities, but let them be hospitable like the cave of Bethlehem, which in its coolness warmly welcomed God and the people who sought to worship Him", the Metropolitan added.
