Catholic Commission for Social Justice
Pope Benedict XVI’s message for the 44th World Day of Peace (Jan. 1), focusess on the theme: Religious Freedom, the Path to Peace. Cardinal Peter Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, says that the Pope chose this theme “because the living of religious freedom – a basic vocation of humankind and a fundamental, inalienable and universal human right, and key to peace – has come under great stress and threat.”
Gospel: Matthew 2, 1 – 12
When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was greatly troubled,
and all Jerusalem with him. Assembling all the chief priests and the scribes of the people, He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it has been written through the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; since from you shall come a ruler, who is to shepherd my people Israel.”
Gospel: Mt 2:13-15, 19-23
When the magi had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him.” Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, Out of Egypt I called my son.
Gospel: Lk 2:1-14
In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment, when Quirinius was governor of Syria. So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town. And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
On this last Sunday of the year, let us reflect on how we have developed over the past year. Ask yourself: During 2010, how have I developed each dimension of myself e.g. spiritual, moral, social, cultural, physical, and mental? What have I done to promote integral human development among members of my family/the wider community?