Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
“Commit your way to the LORD; trust that God will act.” (Psalm 37:5)
Each year at Christmas, we celebrate with gratitude and reverence the birth of our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Christmas reminds us that God is not distant or remote, but has entered human history and drawn near to our lives. When we entrust our way to the Lord and place our confidence in His guidance, we can continue our journey with hope, even when the path ahead is unclear.
The Gospel tells us that on the night of Christ’s birth, the radiant light of God first shone upon the shepherds of Bethlehem. They were among the most marginalised and overlooked in society, yet they were the first to receive the Good News. This reminds us that God’s love knows no boundaries of status or distance. He draws close to the poor and the afflicted, walks with those who suffer, and bestows His unfailing love upon all who belong to Him. The hope of Christmas is a light kindled in the midst of darkness.
Yet we are also keenly aware that our world remains deeply wounded. In recent years, armed conflicts in the Middle East and the prolonged war between Russia and Ukraine have continued unabated. Natural disasters and tragic incidents have struck many regions, including severe flooding in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei area, devastating fire in Hong Kong, and the recent shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. Such events have brought loss and uncertainty to countless families. In moments like these, people understandably feel weary, vulnerable, and even disheartened. It is precisely in this reality that Christmas reveals its deeper meaning, not merely as a season of warmth and festivity, but as a profound call to lift our eyes anew to the Lord who chooses to walk with us.
At a recent General Audience, Pope Leo XIV reminded us: “We were not created for deprivation, but for fullness—to rejoice in life, and life in abundance.” The Holy Father also observed: “Jesus does not provide answers ‘from above,’ detached from our suffering. Rather, He walks with us—along a path that is often arduous, painful, and mysterious.” Only Christ can grant us true and lasting peace along our journey, sustaining and fulfilling us even amid fatigue and anxiety. This enduring peace flows from the loving gaze of God. We are called to trust that His gaze never turns away from those who are enduring hardship and sorrow. Like the shepherds of Bethlehem, those most fragile and most easily forgotten, who were the first to be seen by God and called to bear witness to the Good News, those who encounter Christ and respond to His call discover a life filled with peace and praise. This is the mystery proclaimed at Christmas: God is with us.
As we look back upon the Jubilee Year now drawing to a close, our Diocese has continued to follow its established pastoral direction, striving at every level to live out this hope. We know that hope cannot remain a slogan; it must be practised patiently and faithfully in daily life. For this reason, we have continued our efforts in the four key areas of pastoral focus: education, social services, family, and youth, seeking to respond to the needs of our time and to allow the light of the Gospel to illuminate concrete people and situations.
In the areas of education and social services, the Diocese has remained committed to upholding the value of life and the dignity of every person. By promoting a value-based education rooted in Christ, who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life,” we hope to help young people find direction amid the confusion of competing values. At the same time, we have placed particular emphasis on caring for the elderly and for those who are poor, sick, or vulnerable, striving through accompaniment and concrete support to ensure that they feel respected, cherished, and never forgotten.
With regard to families, ecclesial communities, and youth ministry, we continue to support families as they grow in faith and love, and to accompany young people as they discern their path and build hope in an uncertain age. The family is the first school of faith, while young people carry the promise of the future. As we approach the significant milestone of the 450th anniversary of the Diocese, this moment is not merely a recalling of history, but a joyful and grateful testimony, one that bears witness to God’s abiding care and guidance through the passing of generations. Heirs to this grace, we are called to pass on faith, hope, and charity from one generation to the next, so that the joy of the Gospel may continue to move from Macau to the world.
In this Christmas season, let us once again draw near to the nativity scenes and contemplate the Saviour who became flesh for our sake. May we entrust the paths of our lives: personal, familial, and communal to the Lord, trusting in His guidance. May the peace of Christ rest upon those who suffer and strengthen hearts that are weary. And may the hope of Christmas illuminate our way, leading us within the love of God to overcome trials and difficulties, and to move forward with grateful hearts.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ bring you peace and hope.
+ D. Stephen Lee Bun Sang
Catholic Diocese of Macau
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