Bishop urges congregation to find joy in own lives

LAE Catholic Bishop Rozario Menezes is urging people to find joy individually in their lives this Christmas.
In his Christmas message, Bishop Rozario said Christmas was time when people saw light through the birth of Jesus Christ, in the darkness that covered earth.
He said people who lived in darkness have seen a great light in Christmas, in book of Isaiah 9:2.
“So God came to dispel this darkness according to gospel of John. In fullness of time, God so loved the world that he gave his only son who took form of a human person and lived among us. He was the light that came and dispel darkness. So that is Christmas”
Bishop Rozario said there was darkness evident everywhere within the country.
“Where there is a corrupt government, corrupt school system, and declining health care through corruption, these are are indications of people living in darkness in society,” the bishop said.
“These are all evils of darkness which are trying to blind us. So celebrating Christmas is being conscious about darkness that is prevalent in society.”
He urged individuals to take stock of their lives to see which kind of darkness they were living in.
“Before going into society look at your own lives. Which areas of your life are still in darkness?
“Maybe you’re thinking negatively about others in society, bad remarks, criticisms and gossips.
“Maybe you need to put a little bit of light there.
“You are not careful about your health by drinking and smoking.
“Putting light firstly means to recognise the time you are living in darkness, and secondly the desire to live in light.”
He said the desire to live in light is to know Jesus Christ, and where Christmas happens through the birth of Christ in dispelling the darkness.
Rozario celebrated his first anniversary as Bishop of Lae Diocese on Dec 15.
He was consecrated on Dec 18 last year in Lae, after the death of former bishop Christian Blouin.