‚But when the fullness of the time came’, writes St. Paul (Gal. 4,4-5 ), ‘God sent his Son, born of a woman, born a subject of the Law, to redeem the subjects of the Law, so that we could receive adoption as sons.’

Dear brothers and sisters,

On this day of the Nativity of Christ, unapproachable God becomes approachable. The infinite is contained in a small cave. The invisible reveals Himself and becomes visible. The one whom no one can touch empties Himself and allows to be touched.

He does not confine Himself to sending the prophets, who proclaim His will or foretell His inflictions. He, the Word of God, who is in the bosom of Father (John 1,18), goes even farer that this. He comes down from heaven to the earth. How is held in his Mother’s arms, He who is in the Father’s bosom? This is all as He knows, as He wished and as He was well pleased.

As He was made a perfect man and never ceased to be the perfect God, He is wholly united to our nature. He takes our form. He speaks like us. He even goes so far as to put on our weakness. And doing so He steps on our ways, facing our joys and sorrows, but is not led astray by our hypocrisy or sinfulness. He heals our sores. He opens the eyes of our blind. He makes our lame to walk. He wakes up our dead. So he sets His throne of Love on earth.

At the same time He never ceases to speak our language. He trusts us His truth and His light. He enriches us with the fullness of His teachings. Unshakable He stands our accusations and blasphemies. Silent He stands before the unjust judges. And He gives Himself as an ultimate sacrifice on the Cross to restore all the dignity to the one who has deprived himself the purity and glory of paradise.

Yes, He was all this and much more with one aim – to establish a new, personal and direct relationship with all of us, so that we could find anew the ability and courage to approach Him. My dear ones, God took our body to let us know Him and that we could find a new life with Him, through Him and in Him.

The Word of God was made flesh and bears the name Immanuel, that is “God with us”. (Matth. 1,23). From now on and ever He is our God! Proclaiming you this good news I wish from all my heart you happiness on this bright day and on the coming new year and I give you my fatherly blessing in Jesus Christ our Saviour, born from Virgin Mary.

In Tallinn,
On the feast of Nativity of Our Lord,
year of grace 2005
+ Stephanos,
Metropolitan of Tallinn and All Estonia

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