Catholic Archbishop Metropolitan Zbignevs Stankevich wishes the Latvian society to open up to the divine light capable of overcoming evil, renewing human conscience, and strengthening common values, emphasizing that without such a value foundation, it is impossible to achieve lasting peace and justice, writes LETA.
In his Christmas address on the eve of the holiday, the archbishop noted that the message of the Holy Scriptures about the coming of light into the world reveals humanity's deep longing for a world without violence, injustice, and mutual manipulation. At the same time, he acknowledged that the annually repeated message raises the question of why evil still exists in the world and even, at first glance, seems to be increasing.
According to Stankevich, the answer to this is found in the message of the prophet Isaiah about the light that rises over the people living in darkness — a light associated with the birth of the promised child.
The archbishop explained that "the people walking in darkness" refers to a society where the hierarchy of values given by God is confused, and the consequences of such a state are internal conflicts, injustice, and the flourishing of selfishness. In his view, light comes when this order of values is restored, and in the Christian tradition, this is associated with the birth of Jesus Christ, which opens the true view of God, the calling of man, and relationships with others.
In his address, Stankevich emphasized that it would be an illusion to hope that only technology, innovation, or economic development can change the world for the better.
"However, the decisive factor is whether we have a vector of common values in Latvian society. What are these values?" Stankevich questioned.
He reminded that the preamble of the Constitution of Latvia mentions Christian values as the foundation of the state's identity, but noted that as long as these values are not inscribed in human conscience, they remain "just a letter on paper."
The archbishop particularly stressed the importance of forming conscience, emphasizing that a child's personality is shaped within the family, educational institutions, and under the influence of the media.
He pointed out that the media plays a significant role in shaping modern society.
"However, the only organized structure in our state that consciously engages in the formation of conscience is the Christian church," the archbishop emphasized.
In his opinion, for society to maintain common values, close cooperation between the state, the education system, the media, and the church is necessary.
Speaking about overcoming evil, Stankevich noted that this occurs alongside the coming of God's light into the world. He reminded of the Christian message that Jesus Christ is the "light of the world," who takes upon Himself the sinful history of humanity and heals it, connecting with each person regardless of their faith.
In conclusion of his address, the archbishop emphasized the Christian roots of Latvia, expressing the opinion that Latvia, in his words, made a covenant with God in 1186 when it accepted baptism.
Stankevich wished for "illuminated by divine light, joyful, and peaceful Christmas celebrations, leading to inner renewal and unity of society."
