Bishop Jung: Where Christ is born is our home!

Bishop Jung: Where Christ is born is our home!

On Christmas Day, the community gathered in Würzburg's St. Kilian's Cathedral to listen to the sermon by Bishop Dr. Listening to Franz Jung. He took up the central message of the Christmas story and quoted the shepherds' saying: “Let us go to Bethlehem”. In his address he emphasized that “wherever Christ is born, there is Bethlehem.” This view awakens a longing for a place of inner peace and renewal.

Jung spoke powerfully about the incarnation of God and the question of where we can find Christ in our lives. He made it clear that God as a human being renews human dignity and dispels darkness. In a world marked by conflict and uncertainty, he called on believers to bring peace to the world and stand up for the most vulnerable. “Our home can also be a Bethlehem,” explained the bishop, who had already expressed similar thoughts in his Christmas mass on Christmas Eve.

The message of peace and hope

The Christmas message goes beyond the festive spirit and points to the deeper need for security and love, as highlighted during Advent. The time of waiting and expectation is intended to lead us to deepen our longing for God. This inner opening is a process that also reminds us of the trust that serves as the basis for peace. The Advent readings make it clear that peace is a gift from God that must be received.

“Material prosperity cannot quench the deepest thirst for love,” emphasizes an article by Herder, who describes the Advent season as an opportunity to promote solidarity and peace. Particularly impressive are the words of encouragement from young people in Rwanda who point out the need for prayer and hope. The Christmas story is therefore not just a retrospective event, but also a call to actively help shape a more peaceful future.

Light and orientation in the dark

Another moving image of the Christmas season is the light, which for believers is a reminder of Jesus, the light of the world. This symbolism is particularly omnipresent during Advent, where lights and colors illuminate the darkness. It is a time when we remember that the Messiah, as light for all people, was born to dispel the darkness.

The birth of Jesus is seen as a sign of salvation. Simeon, a pious man from Jerusalem, recognized when he met the child in the temple that he was holding the light for the Gentiles. This revelation keeps alive the message that the light of the world is there for every person, regardless of origin or status, and shows that God remains faithful even when we are sometimes not.radiogong.com, [herder.de]. [wkg-ch.org].