Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus,

This Christmas, once again we shall draw near to the Nativity scene in our parish church and in our home. With the shepherds and the three Kings, we kneel in prayerful adoration before the Infant Savior as His Blessed Mother and Saint Joseph look at Him with wondrous love.

The Infant Savior lying in the manger is often represented with His tiny arms held out to us, inviting our embrace of love. Whether or not the particular statue of the Infant Jesus upon Whom we gaze and before Whom we kneel has, in fact, His arms held out, His Heart within is beating with such love for each one of us, longing for our love in return.

In fact, as Pope Benedict XVI reminds us, “God’s sign is that he makes himself small for us.... He comes as a baby — defenseless and in need of our help…. He asks for our love: so he makes himself a child. He wants nothing other from us than our love…. God made himself small so that we could understand him, welcome him and love him” (Pope Benedict XVI, Christmas Mass, 2006).

So, this Christmas, let us allow ourselves to be touched by the love that pours out from His Infant Heart! If we really open our heart in a free and willing “yes” in order to receive the love that comes from His Heart, then that Divine Love has the power to change us and lead us back to Him (conversion); the power to mold us more into living images of Him, imperfect, yes, but nonetheless real (transformation); and the power to impel us to bring His love within us to others so that they too, in turn, can know that God’s love is real for them (witness).

I join you in adoration and prayer before the Infant Savior, Whose Heart is beating with such love and Who so desires to place His Love within our hearts so that we may be the heralds and the living instruments of His love to everyone.

Such will be my prayer for you and your loved ones in the Holy Masses which I shall offer on Christmas Day and throughout the Christmas season. A blessed Christmas to each one of you!

Faithfully in the Heart of Christ, I remain,

Most Reverend Paul S. Loverde

Bishop of Arlington