I am always intrigued by the words of the song of the Late Great Jim Reeves that “man will live forevermore because of Christmas Day.” It naturally invites reflection on the significance of the feast which we are about to celebrate—Christmas. It tells of the absolute giftedness of God towards us in the person of Jesus Christ. Indeed, “man will live forevermore because of Christmas Day!”
The appeal of this holy season is simply a call to renew, in each one of us, the challenge to be like unto God in His expression of unconditional love through the gift of His Son, Jesus. When we think of the fact that none of us brought anything into this world and will take absolutely nothing out of it, we realise that anything we can ever ‘possess’ is a gift given in trust for our benefit and the benefit of others here on earth, and to prepare us for eternity. We can only achieve this by learning to appreciate our own giftedness, that is, the ability to use our time, talent and treasure for the advancement of the kingdom of God here on earth.
Truthfully, the message of Christmas has more to do with giving than receiving. This does not mean that as Christians we cannot to be at the receiving end of generosity. In fact, wherever there is a gift given, there must be a recipient. However, I am here referring to the ‘giving’ disposition that is absolutely required of the followers of Christ. It is not without reason that St. Paul in the Acts of the Apostles reminds us that: “There is more happiness in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:35).
All the sacraments of the Church reflect in some way that generous nature of God, whether through our Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Eucharist, Penance, the Sacrament of the Sick, Holy Orders and Matrimony. However, the Eucharist, for obvious reasons, ranks the highest in demonstrating that truth. Through it, God in Jesus Christ gives to humanity the ultimate gift for its salvation.
For this reason, a good steward of God’s gifts lives with a permanent attitude of gratitude. The meaning of Eucharist is thanksgiving, in that, Jesus, on the night before he died, took bread and wine and gave thanks, saying “this is my Body, this is my Blood offered for you for the forgiveness of sins.” Therefore, Christmas represents the first giving of God to us and it culminates in His ultimate giving which is the Eucharist.
By adopting Stewardship: A Way of Life as our Diocesan Pastoral Theme for the coming year, we endeavour to challenge ourselves as Christian to re-examine our attitude, disposition, and the practice of giving our time, talent and treasure for the advancement of God’s Kingdom here on earth. Each of us, therefore, as stewards of the manifold gifts of God is duty-bound to contribute something towards God’s reign on earth; be it giving something to the poor and less fortunate, paying a visit to the sick in hospital or nursing home, volunteering at homes for the aged and the homeless, bringing good cheer to the lonely, sharing joy with the little ones, and helping in some area of Church ministry or some social service.
Our stewardship can only be patterned on that of God, the steward par excellence, who, besides creating everything for our good, did not reserve his own Son. He gave Him up even to the point of death, for the sake of our salvation. Ours, therefore, is a call to imitate His manner of being and His way of relating.
Therefore, in this season of giving, it is fitting for us to recognize the persons in our society who by virtue of their office serve the good of our community. They deserve our thanks and commendation for their stewardship. I refer to all those who are in the position of leadership of one kind or another and those in service ministries of both Church and State.
May this Christmas be for us one with a difference; one in which we will discover one or more ways to serve our church and country. In so doing, we can look forward to a productive 2019.
On behalf of the Clergy and Religious working in the Diocese I wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you and your family!
Come let us reason. So you talk about a ministering spirit of thanksgiving towards the less fortunate as our duty bound fulfillment of Gods generosity and free gifts. There is more to the story than that. What about giving our temples to God by allowing the holy spirit to operate freely through us In fulfilling also our daily bread. In so doing we provide for the weak as God provides for us. Giving prayers of positive affirmations, and fulfilling The Word by manifesting our own selves, our fulfilled Christ. Bless.
Express views; if you believe I attack your earthly god; here is what is written in the word of God!
“1.This is a true saying: If a man desire the office of a bishop, his desireth a good work.
2. A bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach.
3. Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous:
4. One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity.
5. For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?”
That is found in First Timothy Chapter 3:1-5: so, viewsexpressed tell me if according to God word, Malzaire is a Bishop?
What is he lacking?
First; where are his wife and children? Don’t try to impress me about your faith and disrespect, you need to respect the truth!
Like Charles Savarin, this bishop is a disgrace to Dominica and I blame him for the fall of Dominica. As a Catholic I vow not to enter a Catholic church as long as he is bishop. Had any of the Christian churches better I sure would have changed my religion but unfortunately they have all been led astray by Roosevelt skerrit and have become more worshippers and ministers of Skerrit than of God.
” I expected from you some decent commentary and not that level of disrespect to my faith, my choice of worship. ”
Are you in your right mind or are you crazy!
In Christianity, or believers in God do not have faith in religion; and religious philosophy; they have faith in ” God,” and not man; read the Bible from Geneses to Revelation and when you find where it name a denomination religion let me know!
There is no such thing as a Roman Catholic, Methodist or any kind of religion faith! If you only have faith in religion you do not have faith in God.
Now you are disrespecting my intelligence and my knowledge of the word of God! Believe in Roman Catholicism, and remain ignorant to what thus saith the Lord, and be lost at the end of your days on this earth. You are ignorant to the definition faith.
” Now faith is the substance of things hope for the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1).
Now respect me!
To stay with Jim Reeves, in our current predicament “He’ll have to go” would be more appropriate.
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Mr. Bishop, your message above, is all of the physical concepts; I am saying that your word is not spiritual, which is your job–to motivate spiritual sensitivity in the mind of your followers. For the God we believe in is Spirit.
“Man will live forevermore because of Christmas Day”? This is the idea of Jim Reeves; it is not God’s Word
True that Jesus, the Christ Himself, came into this World to sacrifice His blood for the Life of mankind, but this Life has nothing to do with the physical. Jesus said to us: ” Unless a man is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God” And again He said: “It is the Spirit who gives Life; the flesh profits nothing!”
The Life that He came to give to us, is of our conscience, mind, heart, and soul, all of which is the body of the Spirit–the God of Love, holiness, peace, and joy living in us, abundantly
If a man leaves his body without that Life, unfortunately, he will surely leave with nothing!
Elizabeth, please go to the confession box and take Skerrit with you. I gather this is what ou are asking for n disguise, well you need it and your corrupt M and Labour government need it, for all the political crime and suffering you all encourage this failed Skerrit to undergo and our people go into deeper poverty. Who the hell are you Elizabeth to question the Bishops words and deeds who has not stole from Domininca, nor engaged in any deception with states monies. If yo want to make a go at someone, go after Skerrit and his failed Corrupt Labour Government. Bishop did a good job, it is up to yo now to go the confession Box in peace and take Skerrit with you. Amen
Views expressed, once again I must educate you where it pertains to the word of God. Where he said ” confess your sins to one another.” That is in reference to Christians confessing their sins to each other; God never told Christians to go into a box and confess to any sinful man priest bishop, or pope!
God meant if I am a christian, and I done something wrong to another Christian, that would be a sin: Therefore once I realized my error and my wrong, I am supposed to go to the person I offended and ask their forgiveness; if the person is truly a Christian they are obligated according to the word of God to forgive me.
No priest, pope or Bishop can forgive you of your sins; when you go in their box with holes saying bless me father for I have sinned!
I was forced to go into one of those boxes, my confession was a lie; what I told that sucker never happened okay!
Do you really believe Sir , that “Man/Woman will live forever more because of Christmas day” ? perpetrators of Religion with a salary, willing to pacify their people with 2000yrs of Orthodoxy lies and illusion . It is ok to be drunk and dis-orderly , feast on cadavers while mis-representing the birth of a Messenger ? after 400yrs of indoctrination, a lot of wrongs are masquerading as right presently. European Paganism continue to play a major part of what Christmas ended up being . Mr Malzaire , if he is well read should know of this , and try moving his people from this Fallacy . Christmas should be a time of Transformation, a new birth , The True message have been submerged in order to control the minds , thats what religion does. At the end when the HEART comes into play , most of us will be left wanting because of the Doctrine of the Europeans.
Bob, have some respect please for the Bishop and others who hold titles representing their profession, faith and or career. It`s “Bishop” Malzaire, his designated name, and its not “Mr.” You make up title for whatever personal reason you may or may not have. You would not want that level of disrespect for your children and family members. As a matter of fact, I will not allude to this behaviour, poor performance of this Prime Minister. However, he holds this prestige position, but has denigrated its purpose, but has to be referred to as Prime Minister, although due to his behaviour and questionable deeds of states money and resources, he could be referred to as this “Odd Minister”, due to his obvious failure as Prime Minister and total disrespect for this position he or anyone holds on behalf of all Dominicans. You allude “The True message have been submerged in order to control the minds”. Disrespectful, shamefull. Religion among other theories and Subjects brought me where I…
@viewsexpressed “Bob, have some respect please for the Bishop and others who hold titles representing their profession, faith and or career. It`s “Bishop” Malzaire, his designated name, and its not “Mr.” Say what!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Boy O boy! Look who is talking about having respect.
Bob, feel truly sorry for you because you must be a miserable man. Especially at this time of the year. Cheer up brother.
Bob, you see those who claim you are disrespecting Malzaire; they sick, brainwashed by Malzaire kind; and that has been going on for hundreds years. I was caught up in that stupid Roman Catholic mess, until I began reading the Bible!
Jesus Christ came into this world for one single reason, and that is for the shedding of his blood on Calvary for the remission of the sins of those of us who who accepts him as our Lord and Savior okay!
Once you come to a point of your life where one realize without God they a lost unless they accept Jesus no amount of good work one does on earth will cause one to live forever!
Christmas cannot take people sins away; only the blood of Jesus Christ can Malzaire is a tool of Satan, and a puppet of Roosevelt Skerrit, may be he will live forever more because of Christmas day, since the pagan religion from whence Christmas originated was influence by the devil!
“I am always intrigued by the words of the song of the Late Great Jim Reeves that “man will live forevermore because of Christmas Day.” It naturally invites reflection on the significance of the feast which we are about to celebrate—Christmas. ”
I wonder when Jim Reeves plane went down killing him if he knew that Jesus Christ exists? Malzaire, false doctrines comes from different source, the man you called great, song did indeed make you believe in something false, actually a lie!
You see, Christmas is a pagan holiday, and has absolutely nothing to do with Jesus Christ, God Jehovah, or the Holy Spirit. I will pay you to find where in the King James version (the Protestant Bible) or the Roman Catholic Bible where the word Christmas is mentioned.
Jesus Christ never told anybody to celebrate his Birthday: Not you your pope, or anyone human born knows the date of Jesus birth. “Do this in remembrance of me” (Jesus Christ). That is to celebrate the Passover.
Not…
Francisco, this is one time I disagree ith you. Bishop Malzaire i one man, a person a Bishop and we have hundreds of people who follow Christianity in Dominica and the Jesus Christ. I would think that rather than personal attack you would have been better off with se comparative accommodating wisdom for us the people ,ending where and how do we develop ourselves and our people and our youth from here. I am sorry Francisco ou have not enlighten our young people who are participating in religion their faith rather than they are in prison or out there committing crime. Our people need role models and I have bee following your thoughts and writings but this one is frightening to me.
Please be guided accordingly. Blessing. Have a blessed Day. All the best.. I look forward to your up coming comments and analyse. Don’t let e down.
I’m yet to understand when individuals speak truth to power there are those who are against it and for that they show there true color, we all have different likes and dislike so why can’t we respect each others opinions. Peace to all he said.
You see, you do not like what I wrote; nevertheless, it would be hypocritical for me to accept the garbage that Malzaire wrote in reference to Jim Reeves song. There is nothing in the Bible to coincide with, or substantiate the lyrics of the song.
Because a so called Bishop talk some rubbish does not make what he say gospel ( the truth). There is no such thing as Christmas in the teachings of God word. If you want to celebrate Christmas you are simply following the traditions of pagan holiday; which in modern days has become commercialized.
The only request to his disciples from Jesus Christ is to celebrate the Passover: That is the drinking of wine, and eating unleavened bread, he instructed us to do that in remembrance of him, and if I am not mistaken that celebration should take place in April!
There is nothing in the Bible which said people will live forever because of Christmas.
Our salvation is due to Jesus shedding his blood for us!
@viewsexpressed “Francisco, this is one time I disagree with you— I have bee following your thoughts and writings but this one is frightening to me.”
viewsexpressed, it is me again coming after you, because you seem to amaze me with your comments on this news article.
It is me again, following your comments here. I can’t believe that this is the only comment, of Telemaque, which has frightened you; I just can believe this!
But I will tell you one thing! Those of you who continue to give that man the thumbs rating, for whatever the reason you do so, the day is coming when you all will be much, much, more than frightened. For I know that Telemaque will come out from hiding behind his computer, to speak those thoughts of his person to person, and the outcome is going to be ugly! Very, very ugly! Remember that I said so.
Elizabeth, when you writing your thing to viewspressed; try hard to exclude my name from what you are trying to impress on him. This nonsense about me hiding behind computer is a false impression you are creating.
My true name and surname is Francisco Etienne-Dods Telemaque, I am born in the Village of Wesley, the only alias I have is “Son.” Anybody in Wesley over seventy years old know me by my alias. I have nothing to hide, I am not hiding behind any computer like you!
If I was fake you would not have seen my face in your house in Canada; where you entertained me: No need for me to remind you; I am the same man you cooked Yellow Yam, and fish for, and when I was through eating I drank your beer too. I am everywhere, I wrote my telephone numbers on DNO in the past; when people want to know if I rely exists and not a robot, they call me okay!
Francisco, I read your comments with respect for you. That is what you feel and represent and that needs to be respected. No one can take this from you. I am however a bit startled by the extreme position you have taken on this matter. I expected from you some decent commentary and not that level of disrespect to my faith, my choice of worship. I grew up in the church as a child serving as an alter boy, visiting homes of the poor, going to the prison and the hospital frequently with our Parish priest to reach out to those hoping that they would learn from their behaviour, but our purpose was not to go there to denigrate, disrespect them to add what the state has already done. We have engaged in prayers , reflection etc and many of them have been converted to a life of decency, return to family, church and to hold on to some level of faith and not crime, robbery, murder, that they could be guided by the congregation of the church and its fair to do good. I`m happy.Fet, Respect please.
“May this Christmas be for us one with a difference; one in which we will discover one or more ways to serve our church and country. In so doing, we can look forward to a productive 2019.”
Whooooaaaa, thanks much Bishop. Inspirational, alot to digest and ponder on as we attempt t escape from the poverty and deterioration of resources, jobs and opportunities for our people. This is the crux of the matter that I see and hear families cry about as I visit the rural, urban and even within our City of Roseau. our people are crying and hoping for a better future. That future will only come with the dismissal of this Labour government under Skerrit. They have failed us, abused our financial resources and other resources, yet they cry something is happening. I am happy I go to church to console my anger and temper because I am at the point where this madness in government can no longer be tolerated.
Blessings and God`s guidance and Prayers. Does our churches have a role to play in…