"Apparuit Salvatoris gratia Dei nostri omnibus hominibus "(Titus 2.11).
Dear brothers and sisters, I renew the good news of the Nativity of Christ with the words of the Apostle Paul: Yes, today" appeared the grace of God, which brings salvation for all men. "
has appeared. This is what the Church celebrates today. The grace of God, rich in goodness and love, is no longer hidden, but" appeared ", has appeared in the flesh, has shown its face. "Where?" In Bethlehem. When? Under Caesar Augustus, during the first census, also referred to St. Luke the Evangelist. And who reveals it? A newborn, Son of the Virgin Mary. He has appeared in the grace of God our Savior. So that Child is called Jehoshua, Jesus, which means "God saves."
The grace of God has appeared. So Christmas is a feast of light. Not a total light, such as flooding around in broad daylight, but a clarity that is done at night and is broadcast from a specific point in the universe: from the cave of Bethlehem, where the divine Child has "come to light ' . In fact, he is the light that propagates itself, as portrayed in many paintings of the Nativity. He is the light that appears, the fog dissipates, displaces the darkness and allows us to understand the meaning and value of our existence and history. Each crib is a simple and eloquent invitation to open our hearts and minds to the mystery of life. It is a meeting with Life immortal, became mortal in the mystique of the Christmas scene, a scene which we can admire here too, in this square, as in countless churches and chapels throughout the world and in every house where the name of Jesus is worshiped.
The grace of God has appeared to all men. Yes, Jesus, the face of God that saves, has not appeared for only a few, for some, but for everyone. It is true that few people have found in the simple and lowly dwelling of Bethlehem, but He has come for everyone: Jews and Gentiles, rich and poor, near and far, believers and non believers ... all.
supernatural grace, by God, is for every creature. But it takes the human being welcomed, they say their "yes" as Mary, so that the heart is illumined by a ray of that divine light. That night Mary and Joseph were waiting to welcome the Incarnate Word in love, and the shepherds who kept watch beside the flocks (cf. Lk 2.1 to 20). A small community, then, who came to worship the Child Jesus, a small community that represents the Church and all men of goodwill. Also today, who in his life I expect and want, are the God who became our brother love everyone in your hearts to God desire to see his face and contribute to the coming of His Kingdom. Jesus himself says in his preaching: these are the poor in spirit, the afflicted, the meek, those hungry for justice, the merciful, the pure in heart, those working for peace, and those persecuted for righteousness' sake ( cf. Mt from 5.3 to 10). These are those who recognize Jesus as the face of God and set off, like the shepherds of Bethlehem, renewed in heart by the joy of his love.
brothers and sisters who hear the proclamation of hope is the core message of Christmas is for all men. Jesus is born for all, as Mary offered in Bethlehem to the shepherds, on this day the Church presents to all mankind, so that each person and situation to feel the power of God's saving grace, which alone can transform evil into good, and change the human heart and make it an "oasis" of peace.
to feel the power of God's saving grace so many people who still live in darkness and the shadow of death (cf. Luke 1.79). May the divine light of Bethlehem throughout the Holy Land, where the horizon seems to become bleak for Israelis and Palestinians in Lebanon is spreading in Iraq and throughout the Middle East. To make fruitful the efforts of those who are not resigned to the perverse logic of confrontation and violence, preferring instead the path of dialogue and negotiation to resolve the tensions within each country and finding just and lasting solutions to conflicts that affect to the region. This light, which transforms and renews long for the people of Zimbabwe, Africa, trapped for too long in the grip of a political and social crisis, which unfortunately continues to deteriorate, as well as men and women of the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially in the troubled Kivu region of Darfur, in Sudan and Somalia, whose endless tribulations are a tragic consequence of the lack of stability and peace. This light is awaited all children in these and all the countries in difficulty to return hope to the future.
Where tramples the rights and dignity of the human person, where the selfishness of individuals and groups prevails over the common good, where you run the risk of fratricidal hatred and exploitation of man by man, where civil strife and ethnic groups divided and disrupt peaceful coexistence, where terrorism continues to strike, which lack the necessities of life, which is regarded with suspicion a future that is being done increasingly uncertain, even in affluent nations, that in all these cases shine the light of Christmas and encourage everyone to do their part in a spirit of genuine solidarity. If everyone thinks only of their own interests, the world is headed for ruin.
Dear brothers and sisters, today "appeared the grace of God our Saviour" (cf. Tit 2.11) in this world of ours, with its capacities and weaknesses, its progress and its crisis, with its hopes and anxieties. Today shines the light of Jesus Christ, Son of the Most High and the son of the Virgin Mary, "God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God ... For us men and our salvation fell from heaven. " We worship today in all corners of the world, wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. We worship in silence, while he, still a child, it seems to comfort us: Do not be afraid, "no other gods before me" (Is 45.22). Come to me, men and women, peoples and nations come to me, fear not. I came into the world to bring you the love of the Father to show you the way of peace.
Let us go, brothers. Haste, like the shepherds on Christmas night. God came to us and showed us his face, full of grace and mercy. His coming is not in vain. Seek Jesus, let us attracted by the light which dispels sorrow and fear the heart of man come boldly, humbly bow down to worship him. Merry Christmas to all.
