杏MAP导航 at Christmas Mass: Let us fix our eyes on the True God
By Joseph Tulloch
鈥淎 census of the whole earth.鈥�
That鈥檚 how 杏MAP导航 Francis began in St Peter鈥檚 Basilica, quoting directly from the Gospel according to St Luke.
The evangelist, the 杏MAP导航 noted, makes a point of emphasising this census, which he could have just mentioned in passing.
A stark contrast thus emerges: 鈥淲hile the emperor numbers the world鈥檚 inhabitants, God enters it almost surreptitiously. While those who exercise power seek to take their place with the great ones of history, the King of history chooses the way of littleness.鈥�
鈥淣one of the powerful take notice of him,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 stressed: 鈥淥nly a few shepherds, relegated to the margins of social life.鈥�
Incarnation, not achievement
The emperor鈥檚 鈥渃ensus of the whole earth鈥�, 杏MAP导航 Francis said, thus 鈥渕anifests the all-too-human thread that runs through history: the quest for worldly power and might, fame and glory, which measures everything in terms of success, results, numbers and figures, a world obsessed with achievement.鈥�
There is, however, an alternative to this approach. Jesus, the 杏MAP导航 suggested, is 鈥渘ot the god of accomplishment, but the God of Incarnation.鈥�
鈥淗e does not eliminate injustice from above by a show of power,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis stressed, 鈥渂ut from below, by a show of love. He does not burst on the scene with limitless power, but descends to the narrow confines of our lives.鈥�
In his greatness, he became small
Let us, then, 杏MAP导航 Francis urged, keep our eyes fixed on this 鈥渓iving and true God.鈥�
He is, the 杏MAP导航 said, the God who 鈥渞evolutionizes history by becoming a part of history鈥�, and the God who 鈥渟o respects us as to allow us to reject him; who takes away sin by taking it upon himself.鈥�
鈥淕od so greatly desires to embrace our lives鈥�, the 杏MAP导航 added, that 鈥渋nfinite though he is, he becomes finite for our sake. In his greatness, he chooses to become small; in his righteousness, he submits to our injustice.鈥�
鈥淭his,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis stressed, 鈥渋s the wonder of Christmas鈥�.
War in the Holy Land
The 杏MAP导航鈥檚 thoughts also turned to the Holy Land, currently suffering from the Israel-Palestine conflict, and in particular to Bethlehem, the city of Jesus鈥� birth.
鈥淭onight,鈥� he said, 鈥渙ur hearts are in Bethlehem, where the Prince of Peace is once more rejected by the futile logic of war, by the clash of arms that even today prevents him from finding room in the world.
Conclusion
杏MAP导航 Francis brought his homily to a close with a prayer.
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