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December 25, 2024Holy Christmas 2024 (Midnight Mass)
The Gospel we just heard presents us with the birth of Jesus in a cave where he is laid in swaddling clothes in a manger.
First of all, we are faced with a confusing and troubled situation. Jesus was not born in the king's palace. Joseph and Mary move from Nazareth, in Galilee, towards Judea, to Bethlehem for the census declared by the emperor. A journey that was certainly uncomfortable and experienced with difficulty, since Mary was approaching the days of giving birth. We can imagine Joseph's search for accommodation, the effort and dismay of not being able to find an inn and finally the decision to settle for a cave where Jesus could be born. He is born in poverty and cold, but he is born in the city of David, the royal city. In this way, his birth appears as a mysterious fulfillment of the prophecy made to King David.
We have listened to the words taken from the book of the prophet Isaiah. There are two expressions that strike us in this prophecy: first of all, the announcement that the people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. This phrase is also true for us today. There is so much darkness in the world, there are conflicts and wars, and there is so much of division among people. There are divisions in families. The world seems to be in darkness. Where there is division, there is darkness, because the darkness is found within us, in our hearts.
But it is precisely in the darkness that a great light appears. We are not asked to flee from the world, but to welcome the light of God who comes into the world and who wants to illuminate our darkness. But this light is not a brilliant idea, it has a human face; here we find the second important expression: a child is born to us. What brings light into the darkness is the birth of a child.
We all know this experience: when a child is born in a family, there is joy, consolation, there is hope. But Christmas is a special birth: Saint Paul describes it by saying that the grace of God has appeared. This child who was born for us is in reality the grace of God, the gift that God makes of himself to us. Baby Jesus is born among us as a free gift from God.
Jesus was born in a precise moment in time, he was born two thousand and twenty-five years ago. Precisely for this reason, tonight Pope Francis will open the Holy Door to remember this birth, thus beginning the Holy Year of the Lord. This year 2025, therefore, will be like celebrating Christmas throughout the year since we are in the Jubilee of the Lord. In reality, we are not only celebrating an event of the past: Jesus, being born in time, communicates an infinite mystery to us: our birth to divine life. The birth of Jesus is the meaning of every other birth and of every birth to new life.
What meaning would our birth in time have, if life ended only in this world and our destiny was only death? No, a child was given to us - his name is Jesus - and this child has conquered sin and death, he is the Prince of Peace, whom we all need. By celebrating the birth of Jesus, we therefore celebrate our new birth, our birth as children of God, loved and wanted forever, from all eternity and for all eternity.
The birth of Jesus teaches us that we were not born to grow old and then die but to be reborn and start over again. Eternal life is an eternal youth in which everything is continually reborn.
But what does it mean for us today to live our daily lives knowing that we are reborn to new life in Jesus? We are called to be like the shepherds the Gospel spoke to us about. Let us be surprised by the angels, let us be surprised by the announcement of this holy night. Let us become for each other angels announcing the joy of Christmas.
First, let us announce this birth, let us announce the meaning of every birth, which is for life and not for death. The greatest suffering of humanity today is not the lack of material goods but having lost the meaning of life and thinking that we are in the world by chance. No, we are children of the light. We must shine in the darkness! We are called to be witnesses of the positive meaning of life.
How is it possible? If we welcome Jesus into our lives, we will be children of the light, workers of peace and reconciliation, rebuilders and healers of wounded humanity. This is the task that we must live first of all in our families and in our communities. Let us emerge from the darkness of conflicts, divisions and vested interests. The world needs peace, but peace begins with each of us, it begins with our heart reconciled with God.
May Mary, Queen of Peace, who gave Jesus to the world, help us to welcome him into our lives today.
To all of you, to your families and your loved ones, near and far, I wish you all the best for this holy Christmas. May the Lord be reborn in our hearts.
Merry Christmas.
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