ANGELUS POPE FRANCIS
Saint Peter's Square
Sunday, 20 December 2015
Dear Brothers and Sisters, Good morning!
The Gospel
for this Sunday of Advent highlights the figure of Mary. We see her when, just
after having conceived in faith the Son of God, she makes the long trip from
Nazareth, in Galilee, to the hill country of Judah, to visit and help her
cousin Elizabeth. The Angel Gabriel had revealed to her that her elderly
relative, who did not have children, was in her sixth month of pregnancy (cf.
Lk 1:26-36). That’s why Our Lady, who carried within her a gift and an even
greater mystery, goes to see Elizabeth and stays with her for three months. In
the meeting between these two women — one old and the other young — it is the
young one, Mary, who offers the first greeting. The Gospel says: “she entered
the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth” (Lk 1:40). After this greeting,
Elizabeth feels enveloped in great astonishment — don’t forget
this word, astonishment. Astonishment. Elizabeth feels
enveloped in greatastonishment which is echoed in these words: “And
why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?” (v. 43).
And they embrace and kiss each other, joyfully, these two women. The elderly
woman and the young one, both pregnant.
To celebrate
Christmas in a fruitful manner, we are called to pause in “places” of
astonishment. And what are these places of astonishment in everyday life? There
are three. The first place is the other, in whom we recognize a
brother or sister, because since the birth of Jesus occurred, every face is
marked with a semblance to the Son of God. Above all when it is the face of the
poor, because God entered the world poor, and it was to the poor, in the first
place, that he allowed himself to draw near.
Another
place of astonishment — the second place in which, if we look with faith, we
actually feel astonishment, is history. So many times we think we
see it the right way, and instead we risk reading it backwards. It happens, for
example, when history seems to us to be determined by the market economy,
regulated by finance and business, dominated by the powers that be. The God of
Christmas is instead a God who “shuffles the cards” — he likes doing so! As
Mary sings in the Magnificat, it is the Lord who puts down the
mighty from their thrones and exalts those of low degree, who fills the hungry
with good things and sends the rich away empty (cf. Lk 1:52-53). This is the
second type of astonishment, astonishment in history.
The third
place of astonishment is the Church. To look on her with the
astonishment of faith means not limiting oneself to consider her only as a
religious institution, which she is, but to feel her as a mother who, despite
her blemishes and wrinkles — we have so many of them! — allows the features of
the beloved bride purified by Christ the Lord to shine through. A Church that
is able to recognize the many signs of faithful love that God continuously
sends her. A Church for which the Lord Jesus will never be a possession to be
jealously protected; those who do this err. The Lord Jesus will always be the
One who comes to meet her and whom she knows how to await with trust and joy,
giving voice to the hope of the world. The Church that calls to the Lord, “Come
Lord Jesus”. The Mother Church that always has her doors open wide, and her
arms open to welcome everyone. Moreover, Mother Church goes out from her own doors
to seek with a mother’s smile all those who are far and bring them to the mercy
of God. This is the astonishment of Christmas.
At
Christmas, God gives us all of himself by giving his Only Son, who is all his
joy. It is only with the heart of Mary, the humble and poor daughter of Zion,
who became the Mother of the Son of the Most High, that it is possible to
rejoice and be glad for the great gift of God and for his unpredictable
surprise. May she help us to perceive the astonishment — these three wonders:
the other, history and the Church — through the birth of Jesus, the gift of
gifts, the undeserved gift who brings us salvation. The encounter with Jesus
will enable us too to feel this great astonishment. We cannot have this
astonishment, however, we cannot encounter Jesus, if we do not encounter him in
others, in history and in the Church.
After the Angelus:
Dear
brothers and sisters, today I am pleased to address a thought to beloved Syria,
to express deep appreciation for the agreement just reached by the
international community. I encourage everyone to continue the journey, with
generous impetus, toward the cessation of violence and a negotiated settlement
that leads to peace. I likewise think of nearby Libya, where the recent commitment
undertaken by the parties for a government of national unity invites hope for
the future.
I would also
like to support the commitment to cooperate being asked of Costa Rica and
Nicaragua. I hope that a renewed spirit of fraternity will further strengthen
their dialogue and mutual cooperation, as well as among all the countries of
the region.
My thoughts
turn at this moment to the dear peoples of India, recently struck by a serious
flood. Let us pray for these brothers and sisters, who are suffering as a
result of this natural disaster, and let us entrust the souls of the deceased
to the mercy of God. Let us pray a Hail Mary for all these brothers and sisters
of India. A Hail Mary to the Virgin….
I greet all
of you with affection, dear pilgrims from various countries who have come to
join in this gathering of prayer. Today, the first greeting is reserved for the
children of Rome. These kids know how to make noise! They have come for the
traditional blessing of the “bambinelli” [figurines of the Baby Jesus for
nativity scenes], organized by the Centro Oratori Romani. Dear
children, listen closely: when you pray before your nativity scenes, also
remember me, as I remember you. I thank you. Merry Christmas!
I wish you
all a happy Sunday and a Christmas of hope, and filled with astonishment, the
astonishment that Jesus gives us, filled with love and peace. Don’t forget to
pray for me! Have a good lunch. Arrivederci!
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