'Our preciousness, uniqueness and individuality ... are given by the One who has chosen us with an everlasting love, and there is no need for anyone to feel helpless because of social or economic conditions' states our  Bishop Paul Hinder, OFM Cap, Vicar Apostolic of Arabia in his Pastoral Letter for Lent 2009.

 

Continuing to commemorate the Year of St Paul, the Bishop has liberally quoted from the Epistles of St Paul, urging us to be the true followers of Christ by expressing unconditional love for our neighbours even under dire circumstances.

 

Bishop Hinder has also emphasized the importance of participating in the Eucharistic celebration with sincere devotion and keeping the Lord's commandments and has asked all Catholics to follow the path of Christ's love to overcome evil. 'Authentic Christian witness in daily life is the most efficient preaching,' argues the Bishop, while insisting that the 'artificiality of the circumstances should not be considered as a free pass to permissiveness.'

 

Quoting from 1 Corinthians 6:13-16, the Bishop says: "For you were bought with a price, therefore glorify God in your body."

 

However, help and comfort will have to be the watchwords for those brothers and sisters who may have slipped morally and the community should not judge them in all self-righteousness. At the same time, Bishop Hinder also cautions everyone about the different denominations that lure the Catholics away under the guise of offering solace at times of trouble. He asks every Catholic to be ever so watchful of the 'other preachers who talk another gospel'.

 

The Bishop urges everyone to live by faith in the 'Son of God' in order to be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. He also exhorts us to share one another's burden in the true spirit of Christian community while focusing on the importance of prayer, which is crucial to lead us on the right path.

 

In concluding his Pastoral Letter, the Bishop points to the Mother of God, who shows us the way to live as children of God and says, 'She is the Mother of God as well as ours and we can implore her intercession.'  The Bishop has assured that as the shepherd of the Vicariate, his prayer will be that our love for God may increase ever more along with spiritual knowledge and every kind of perception to discern what is of value.