Bishop Keehner's letter - Christmas

Listen here to hear the letter read by Father Mark Stoll.

I’m Father Mark Stoll and this is the Christmas letter to the faithful by Bishop John Keehner of the Diocese of Sioux City.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

One of my favorite things to do during the Christmas season is to drive slowly though the streets looking at the Christmas lights. No matter how simple or complex or even gaudy, there is something about those light displays in the midst of the darkness of winter which satisfies my heart in way that nothing else can do.

In the midst of the gloom, I find comfort, as if even the most meager of displays, such as the single, solitary light of a candle shining in a window are quiet, subversive acts of rebellion against the darkness of the world, as if we are collectively shaking our fists in solidarity with one another, promising that we will not give in to the darkness; we will not give in to the all pervading gloom which seems to envelop our world.

Of course, our celebration of Christmas is very much a celebration of the Light of God’s love come into the world in the person of his Only Begotten Son.

As we read in the first preface to the Eucharistic Prayer for the Nativity of the Lord,

For in the mystery of the Word made flesh

A new light of your glory has shone upon the eyes of our mind,

So that, as we recognize in him God made visible,

We may be caught up through him in love of things invisible.

It is not accidental that we celebrate Christmas at the time of the solstice, at the time in which in the Northern hemisphere the light begins to increase and the darkness to decrease. The very heavens reflect the reality of our faith, that Christ, the word made flesh, has come into the world to shine away the darkness of sin, to shine away the darkness of suffering, to shine away the darkness of death. As Christians, we are called to share that light with the world around us and in doing so the share the love of Christ, of the eternal word made flesh.

Our celebration of the Christmas season, in which we spend time, certainly in prayer, but also with family and friends—this season which we celebrate with special foods, with beautiful and joyful music, with our homes decorated with trees and lights—reminds us that as followers of Jesus, we are to reflect his light to a darkened world. We are to shine his light wherever there is darkness, wherever there is fear. We are called to bring the warmth of his love to wherever there is the coldness of apathy or hatred.

Our celebration of Christmas reminds us that God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whoever believes in him might have eternal life. As we celebrate the great season of Christmas, may we grow in that belief. May we grow in our faith. And may we allow our lives to shine like beacons in the midst of the darkness of the world, that all the world might come to know the light of God’s love for them, that all the world might recognize the new light of God’s glory shining upon the eyes of their mind, that they, too, might be caught up through him in love of things invisible.

Your brother in Christ,

Most Rev. John E. Keehner

Bishop of Sioux City