The readings speak to us through the Prophet Micah of Bethlehem Ephrathah. He ended thus: He will stand firm, he will shepherd with the strength of the Lord, with the dominion of the name of the Lord, his God; they will settle down, for the Lord will be great to the ends of the earth. He will be at peace. Much could be written about peace in the Holy Land. I will only say three things. The first is that we must pray for this peace to come soon. But the Prophet speaks to us of a coming peace, not only of the birth of the Lord but of the one that will come when he truly reigns. We will live a long period of true peace, not as the rulers of now and always pretend, after six thousand years of fighting for that piece of land, which everyone believes to be theirs, that land that “flowed with milk and honey,” but a feeling of peace with one flock, and one shepherd. If they do not accept Christ, that peace will be impossible. And thirdly, all those who go out into the streets asking for peace for Palestine have a more effective way than shouting. They can live in peace with their parents, husbands or wives, with their neighbours, and go back to talking to their brothers and sisters. Because it often happens that we want peace for those who are far away, but we prevent peace for those who live at home.
In the same way, the willingness to transmit to those who do not have Faith, the Love that we receive from God, in the same way that the Blessed Virgin ran out to help her cousin Elizabeth, without letting herself be carried away by fear, the dangers of attackers or wild beasts on the road, or what they would say when they returned because she would be several months pregnant. She does not think about it, she simply throws herself into helping her cousin. In these days of festive meals, of celebration, of Christmas carols, perhaps it is your turn to help those who are close to you in simple things. In getting up from the table to serve others. In forgetting about yourself to worry about how you can make others happy (the key to happiness: thinking about others; that is why selfish people are bitter). Days of simple but constant work. Yes, you, who think that it is not for you, from now on, get your act together. And if you do not have to walk a hundred kilometers to help another, like the Mother of my Lord, at least take the necessary steps so that the same people do not always get up to the table, as often happens.
The third point is Thanksgiving. Mary arrives at Elizabeth’s house and sings gratefully: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord.” We have to give God so many thanks every day for so many things. Today I would like, especially to all of you who have lost your father or mother this year, to live these days thinking more about those who are here than about those who are not. May those who are with God live Christmas much better, much more real, much closer and much happier. It is time to give the best of ourselves to those who remain. Some people say: “I would like to close my eyes today and open them on January 7th.” That is not the Christian attitude. The Lord asks us to value what we have, to be thankful for it and, to the extent of our possibilities, to serve, during these days and throughout the year, those around us. When you are able to give yourself here and now, in your home, one day after another, it will be easy and consistent for you to give yourself to those you do not know, to fight for the rights of all and, most importantly, to transmit the Faith with your life.
May the Child Jesus give Hope to all those who do not believe in Him, to all those who do not know Him and, if possible, through you, so much the better. MERRY CHRISTMAS!
