Only days before Christmas, Pope Francis held his weekly General Audience, in which he reflected on the significance of the 'secondary' characters in the Nativity scene, from the shepherds and the angels, to the magi and the star.
POPE FRANCIS
The message of the Gospels is clear: the Birth of Jesus is a universal event that concerns all people. I'd like to invite all men and women into the grotto of Bethlehem to worship the Son of God made man. Let each of us approach the crib we have in our home or church, and try to make an act of worship from our hearts: I believe that You are God, that this child is God. Please give me the grace of humility to be able to understand.
The Pope urged Christians to reflect on the humility of the poor in the Nativity scene, as well as the humility of the rich who do not let their possessions overtake them.
He also said to meditate on the deeper meaning of Christmas.
POPE FRANCIS
There will be greetings, family gatherings. This is always beautiful. But let us also be aware that God is coming 'for me.' Let us all say this: God comes for me. The awareness to seek God, to find God, and to accept God requires humility, to look with humility.
At the end of the audience, the Pope received a phone call. It did not seem like a simple Christmas message, but a more important matter since he interrupted his typical greetings to members of the clergy to take it.
JMB
TR: JM
