[ad_1]
“It is important that it is not reduced to a merely sentimental or consumerist party,” said Pope Francis, “if the pandemic has forced us to be more distant, Jesus, in the manger, shows us the path of tenderness to be close to the each other, to be human. Let’s follow this path ”.
December 23, 2020
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis once again held today’s general audience in the private library. In his “reflections” he pointed out that “Christmas has become a universal holiday, and even those who do not believe perceive the appeal of this occasion”, but “it is important that it is not reduced to a merely sentimental or consumerist party” Because “it is a decisive event, an eternal fire that God has kindled in the world, and should not be confused with the ephemeral ”.
The pontiff again mentioned what he said last Sunday, namely, that consumerism “has hijacked Christmas from us.” He did it to underline the need to “curb a certain worldly mentality, incapable of grasping the incandescent core of our faith, which is this: ‘And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father ‘(Jn 1:14).
“Christmas invites us to reflect, on the one hand, on the drama of history, in which men and women, wounded by sin, unceasingly seek truth, mercy and redemption; and, on the other hand, of the goodness of God, who has come to us to communicate the Truth that saves and to make us share in his friendship and his life.
It is a grace. “We receive this gift of grace through the simplicity and humanity of Christmas, and it can remove from our hearts and minds the pessimism that has spread today as a result of the pandemic. We can overcome that feeling of disquieting bewilderment, not allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by defeats and failures, in the rediscovered awareness that this humble and poor Child, hidden and defenseless, is God Himself, made man for us.
“The Second Vatican Council, in a famous passage of the Constitution on the Church in the modern world, tells us that this event concerns us all:” Because by his incarnation the Son of God has united in some way with every man. He worked with human hands, thought with a human heart, acted by human choice, and loved with a human heart. Born of the Virgin Mary, he has truly become one of us, like us in everything except sin ”(Pastoral Constitution Joy and hope, 22) “. God is with us.
“This reality gives us great joy and courage. God did not look at us with contempt, He did not pass us by, He was not repulsed by our misery, He did not dress superficially in a body, but He fully assumed our nature and our human condition. He left nothing but sin: all humanity is in him. He took all that we are, just as we are. This is essential to understanding the Christian faith.
“St. Augustine, reflecting on his path of conversion, writes in his Confessions:” Because I did not cling to my Lord Jesus Christ, I, humbled, the Humble One; nor did I even know where his illness would lead us “(Confessions VII, 8) .
“The ‘sickness’ of Jesus is a ‘teaching’! Because it reveals to us the love of God. Christmas is the feast of Love incarnate and born for us in Jesus Christ. He is the light of humanity that shines in the darkness, giving meaning to human existence and all of history ”.
Pope Francis urged the faithful to meditate before the nativity scene, which is “a catechesis” of the birth of Jesus, and reread the letter “Admirabile signum” written last year and dedicated to the nativity scene.
“At the school of Saint Francis of Assisi, we can become a bit childish by pausing to contemplate the Nativity scene, and by allowing the wonder of the ‘wonderful’ way in which God wanted to come into the world to be reborn. . This will rekindle the tenderness in us, and today we have a great need for tenderness. If the pandemic has forced us to be more distant, Jesus, in the manger, shows us the path of tenderness to be close to each other, to be human. Let’s follow this path ”.
In his greeting to the German faithful, he said: “We are going to please the Child Jesus, if in these days of celebration we do not forget the lonely, sick and needy. One phone call is enough to send them a ray of Christmas light. The Lord will reward this. “
Finally, he said to the Italians: “By imitating the shepherds, you too run to the Holy Grotto: Jesus awaits you to give you his light and his peace. He wants to enrich your life with his love and his grace ”.– Asia News
[ad_2]
