Cardinal Puljić: We must build society ourselves, not have decisions made about us without us

Metropolitan Archbishop of Vrhbosna Cardinal Vinko Puljić sent a Christmas message for 2016, which we transmit in full:

- The true light that enlightens every man comes into the world... And to those who received him he gave power to become children of God” (Jn 1:9,12)

The Jubilee Year of Divine Mercy enriched us with a special spiritual content, and we carried numerous graces in our souls for life. Many experienced the beauty of forgiveness in confession. Many, themselves touched by God's forgiveness, forgave one another and built peace and reconciliation. Many found spiritual peace through works of mercy and pilgrimages. True, not all were touched by the graces of the Jubilee Year, but a large part of the faithful opened the doors of their hearts to meet the Lord.

In such a mood, touched by God's mercy, we entered the particularly dear time of Advent, to prepare personally, as families, and through parish communities for the celebration and experience of Christmas. Again we had the opportunity to experience wonderful feelings in the Rorate Masses, personal confessions, communal and personal prayers of the Rosary, and especially in works of love.

Year of the Catholic Laity

In the desire to continue pastoral activity in the archdiocese, we began the Year of the Catholic Laity under the title The Path of the Church of Vrhbosna with the Laity. We want to become aware of the role of the laity in the Church, especially in parish communities. If we intend to realize the motto of our Vrhbosna Synod To Renew All Things in Christ, then cooperation between priests and consecrated persons with the laity, who realize themselves as a royal priesthood, is inevitable.

Against Hopelessness

Despite these wonderful graces, we cannot bypass the dark sides of the life we live, where we still must seek special strength and light from the Holy Spirit.

How not to mention a certain strange hopelessness that has gripped many, making them lightly abandon their hearths and homeland. It is hard to understand that this land – for which many in the war, defending themselves, endured so many sacrifices, sweating to earn a living to survive – we now lightly leave. Here, awaiting the resurrection of the dead, lie the bones of so many of our ancestors who died on this soil and for this soil. Therefore, we feel the need to encourage people: to be braver, facing everyday life, unitedly and committedly fighting for equal rights, opening perspectives for life.

A people that does not love life has no future

Also, with special sorrow we meet numerous grandfathers and grandmothers, elderly fathers and mothers, whom their children have abandoned, leaving them to end their lives in severe loneliness. We are grateful to all good people who, through various associations or through Caritas, get involved in their care. We rightly ask: where has the fourth commandment of God disappeared, as the first in the Decalogue that promises man “a good and long life on earth” if he honors his parents (cf. Eph 6:2-3)? What is happening with this “culture” that tramples God's and human natural laws?

How to understand this culture, which fiercely condemned Nazism for killing innocent people, as well as all war crimes, and legalizes the killing of unborn children? It is obvious that we are spreading a culture of death.

How to celebrate Christmas, which is a feast of life, in this atmosphere that legalizes death? We must open our hearts and families to new life and love life. That is God's gift. A people that does not love life has no future.

In working with children, I heard numerous and painful stories, which are “childishly sincere”, and they say: “Why don't those I love love each other?” They mean their parents, who pour out their bitterness before them, from which marriages ultimately break – because they lack true love that is ready for sacrifice.

Let us bring in the light

Into this reality of ours, the Son of God is born as a small child to reveal God's love to us. God has spoken to us in His Son. The prophet Isaiah says: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined” (Is 9:2). Into this darkness of ours, of broken human relationships, broken morality, and the twilight of hopelessness, the Savior was born as light. Therefore, the angels tell the shepherds: “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:10-11).

To experience Christmas means to discover the source of joy that brings light into our life's journey and facing all challenges. Therefore, let us say with the shepherds: “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us” (Lk 2:15). Let us look at this revealed love of God in the little Christmas Child, and let us bring that experience into our families, so that harmony, understanding, forgiveness, and cooperation may reign in them. Let us bring that joy and that light to children, who are a gift to the family, society, Church, and humanity. Let us bring that light and that joy to our elderly, sick, and abandoned, so that they may transmit this revealed love of God into our lives. Let us bring that light and that joy into everyday life, so that we do not fear sacrifice and do not lose hope, because we have believed in God's love.

This is “the true light, which enlightens every man” (Jn 1:9). “But to all who received him, he gave power to become children of God” (Jn 1:12).

Therefore, we light Christmas candles on the Christmas tree to remind us that we must shine, witnessing hope and courage for life.

I send you this message and greeting, wishing to light the light of hope in your personal life and work. May that light enable you to live the joy of love. May that light multiply faith and increase courage for life in this society, which we must build, and not leave decisions about us to be made without us.

In that spirit, I wish a Merry Christmas to every Catholic, every family, every child, every elderly man and woman, the sick and abandoned, every priest, monk and nun, every seminarian and seminarian, every candidate for religious life: may the Christmas mystery bring you all joy.

Merry Christmas and all Christmas holidays, and in the new year 2017 may an abundance of God's blessing follow you!