The Speech of His Holiness Pope Shenouda III on the Nativity of Christ on the Radio
General Message of the Lecture
In this spiritual message, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III presents a deep reflection on the meanings of the Nativity of Christ, focusing on love, peace, meekness, and humility as the essential message Christ brought to the world. The Coptic Orthodox understanding appears clearly in viewing Christ’s birth as a transforming event that leads the human heart to a true spiritual relationship with God and others.
- The Nativity as a Blessed New Beginning
His Holiness congratulates the people on the new year, wishing them a life filled with God’s work and spiritual growth, and reminds them of the joy of celebrating the glorious Nativity.
- The Love of Christ: A Complete Love for All
The Pope affirms that love was known before Christ, but the Lord presented an unprecedented model of love:
- A love that includes everyone, even enemies.
- A love based on giving and sacrifice, as He taught: “There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
- A spiritual love that binds the human being to God as a loving Father who removes fear from the heart.
- Meekness and Humility as Foundations for Life with God
He explains how Christ offered a living example of humility, even washing the feet of His disciples, teaching that true greatness lies in serving others.
Christ also showed meekness, not quarrelling or crying out, and approached sinners with gentleness and compassion to bring them to repentance.
- The Message of Peace: Between God and People, and Among All Humanity
He emphasizes that Christ came to reconcile, not to condemn, offering peace that unites humanity with God and plants peace among people, calling for endurance and refraining from revenge.
- A Prayer for the World
The Pope concludes with a prayer for world peace, especially for Palestine and Lebanon, asking for God’s blessing on efforts for peace in the Middle East and Africa, and that the feast may be a blessing for all.
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