Pope Francis delivers his homily during Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican Dec 24, 2023. (CNS photo/Lola Gomez)
OFFICE FOR SOCIAL MINISTRY
“While those who exercise power seek to take their place with the great ones of history, the King of history chooses the way of littleness. None of the powerful take notice of him: only a few shepherds, relegated to the margins of social life.” (Pope Francis, homily on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24)
While many of us are fortunate to celebrate the festivities of Christmas, so many others around the world are suffering from the ravages of war, violence, natural disasters, hunger and homelessness. Pope Francis called attention to this somber reality during his Christmas Eve homily from Rome, just as news media around the world were focusing on images of dark, desolate streets in the town where Jesus was born. Bethlehem churches that were traditionally filled with tourists during the holidays were empty, except for a grim stable scene made of rubble from bombed out buildings with a tiny Christ child in the center. “Tonight, our hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world.”
Besides praying for justice and peace for those suffering the violent wars in Gaza and Ukraine, our Holy Father called us to reflect on the conflicts in our own lives by making room for Jesus in our hearts and sharing with others in need. Even though we may feel overwhelmed by seemingly overpowering forces, the pope asks us to be like the Christ child and choose “the way of littleness” through constant acts of love, justice and peace to make a lasting impact.
Pope Francis points out, “There is always a risk that we celebrate Christmas while thinking of God as a powerful potentate in the sky; the false image of a distant deity who treats the good well and the bad poorly; a god made in our own image and likeness, handy for resolving our problems and removing our ills.”
But the pope painted a picture of a very different God revealed at Christmas: “who waves no magic wand; He does not save us by pushing a button, but draws near us, in order to change our world from within.” Pope Francis tells us that our God “does not eliminate our pain, but rather transforms it and grants us a hope that is greater than all our problems.” By “becoming human in the flesh,” the pope believes it is this meaning of “incarnation” that we celebrate at Christmas. “God so greatly desires to embrace our lives that, infinite though he is, he becomes finite for our sake …This is the wonder of Christmas: not a mixture of sappy emotions and worldly contentment, but the unprecedented tenderness of a God who saves the world by becoming incarnate.”
Revealing face of mercy
In contemplating on the manger scene, the pope asks that we reflect on the vulnerability of Jesus in the flesh, “For it truly is the sign that reveals God’s face, a face of compassion and mercy, whose might is shown always and only in love.”
For all who are facing difficulties this Christmas, including those displaced by wars and natural disasters, the pontiff offered encouragement by reflecting on God “becoming flesh” and sharing fully in our humanity. “You may think things are going badly, or feel dissatisfied with your limitations, your failings, your problems, and your sins. Today, though, please, let Jesus take the initiative. He says to you, ‘For your sake, I became flesh; for your sake, I became just like you.’ So why remain caught up in your troubles? Like the shepherds, who left their flocks, leave behind the prison of your sorrows and embrace the tender love of the God who became a child.
“Put aside your masks and your armor; cast your cares on him and he will care for you. He became flesh; he is looking not for your achievements but for your open and trusting heart. In him, you will rediscover who you truly are: a beloved son or daughter of God. Now you can believe it, for tonight the Lord was born to light up your life; his eyes are alight with love for you. We have difficulty believing in this, that God’s eyes shine with love for us.” Christmas reminds us of this shining light of aloha in the eyes of our brother, the Christ child, and that we are all sons and daughters of God.
In closing, the pope urged us all to reflect on and connect with the light that guided the poor shepherds that first Christmas night and to shine that light through our loving care and compassion. That is the God we believe in, and this is the Christmas hope of justice and peace for all that we carry into the New Year. Let us find room in our hearts to shine that light throughout this coming year.
Mahalo,
Your friends at the Office for Social Ministry
