«Our heart tonight is in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is still rejected by the losing logic of war, with the roar of weapons that even today prevents him from finding a home in the world». These are the words of Pope Francis during the homily at mass in St. Peter's on Christmas night.
Recalling "the context in which Jesus was born" and the then "census of the whole earth", the pontiff recalled that "while the emperor counts the inhabitants of the world, God enters almost secretly; while those in charge try to rise among the greats of history, the King of history chooses the path of smallness. None of the powerful people notice him, only some shepherds, relegated to the margins of social life."
And Francis then warned against «the risk of experiencing Christmas with a pagan idea of God in your head, as if he were a powerful master in heaven; a god who marries power, worldly success and the idolatry of consumerism." «The false image of a detached and touchy god always returns - he explained -, who behaves well with the good and gets angry with the bad; of a god made in our image, useful only to solve our problems and take away our evils." For the Pope, «He, however, does not use a magic wand, he is not the commercial god of "everything at once"; he doesn't save us by pressing a button, but he comes close to change reality from within." Yet, he observed, "how deeply rooted in us is the worldly idea of a distant and controlling God, rigid and powerful, who helps his people to prevail against others! But it's not like that: He was born for everyone."
"Here is the wonder of Christmas - Francis indicated -: not a mixture of saccharine affections and worldly comforts, but the unprecedented tenderness of God who saves the world by becoming incarnate". "We look at the Child, we look at his manger, we look at the nativity scene - he added -: it is the revealing sign of the face of God, who is compassion and mercy, almighty always and only in love". Then inviting us to rediscover adoration, "which is not a waste of time", the Pope quoted the British writer and philologist Tolkien, the author of the "Lord of the Rings". «A great narrator of epic deeds wrote to his son - he recalled -: “I offer you the only great thing to love on earth: the Blessed Sacrament. There you will find charm, glory, honor, loyalty and the true path of all your loves on earth."
Meanwhile, Sarah Netanyahu, wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sent a letter to Pope Francis asking for his "personal intervention" in the situation of the Israeli hostages in the hands of Hamas in Gaza. «Your Holiness - he wrote -, I ask you for your personal intervention on this topic. Please use your influence to seek his release unconditionally and without delay." "I also ask you - he added - to appeal to the Red Cross to visit all the hostages and give them vital medicines." "His intervention - he explained - could tip the scales and save precious lives."
(Unioneonline/ss)
