Bishop Enrique Díaz Díaz shares with Exaudi readers his reflection on the Gospel of December 24, 2024, entitled: “Today the Savior is born to us”
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Texts of the midnight mass
Isaiah 9, 1-3, 5-6: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light”
Psalm 95: “Today the Savior is born to us”
Titus 2, 11-14: “The grace of God has appeared to all men”
Luke 2, 1-14: “Today the Savior is born to us”
Merry Christmas to all of you! May the smile of a child who loves us and becomes a man for each one of us fill our emptiness, illuminate our darkness and awaken our hopes. Merry Christmas, with Christ in our hearts!
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, and on those who lived in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned” (Is 9:1). These are the words that we hear in the atmosphere of recollection and joy on Christmas Eve. It is the cry of Isaiah who, in the midst of Israel’s difficulties, proclaims hope to an oppressed and threatened people, defeated and on the verge of despair. It is also the message full of faith and hope that we want to send to all the men and women of our people who, despite the darkness and shadows through which we walk, continue to sow hope, fill our communities with light, build and rebuild. In the midst of a devastating world, in the midst of insecurities and injustices, above all the catastrophes, natural or caused by human carelessness, we want to raise our voice to announce that not all is lost. We want to encourage the sincere struggle of those who promote justice and peace. We want to join hands and our strength with those who bring light and hope to our world.
The reasons that Isaiah presents for this great joy are: the end of oppression, which allows for the joy of the harvest, and the end of war, which removes the oppressive yoke. How we would like to be able to say today that corruption, discrimination, poverty, misery and wars have ended! We would like to affirm that there are no more oppressive yokes, and that we have the healthy joy of knowing that we are all brothers. But no; all these misfortunes that our people suffer have not ended, far from it. Instead, we can affirm that there are men and women who, full of hope, continue to fight for a new world, and who today are strengthened by the words of the Lord, who through Isaiah tells us: “Fear not, for I am with you; Do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you and help you, and uphold you with my victorious right hand… Fear not, you worm of Jacob, you caterpillar of Israel; I myself will help you” (Is 41:10,14). That is how we feel: “you little worm… you little caterpillar”, but in the hands of the Lord.
“For a child has been born to us” (Is 9:5). The newborn Child is the maximum expression of this dream. If oppression has ended, if war has ended, it is because a Child has been born. The light has appeared. This is the reason for our joy and the reason to continue fighting: “A Child has been born to us”. It is God made man who changes our darkness into light. The greatest presence of God is to become flesh like us. Like the shepherds, today we are surprised and “the glory of God envelops us with his Light”. And in the light of this Child, everything changes. Darkness cannot overcome light. Selfishness, ambition, corruption, however great, will not succeed in overcoming the light. This is the reason for our hope! Our poor efforts are linked to the weakness and smallness of the Child who nestles in the loving arms of Mary. But with this Child, “wonderful Counselor,” “powerful God,” we will not be afraid. He gives birth to true hope in us. That is why today we join all men in hope. A Child has been born, who is our hope!
It is beautiful to see how the simplest of people, putting aside bitter frustrations, begin to build, and bring light and hope to all their brothers. The little worm and the little caterpillar are building the New House, where we are all brothers and where we can all live with dignity. United with this Child “who was born to us,” may we all build together the Kingdom of God. May the light of Christ illuminate all men and women, and may his love spread to the whole earth.
