杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

鈥淕od hides Himself in the littleness of a Child being born鈥�.

杏MAP导航 Francis took the twin words of 鈥渉iddenness and littleness鈥� as the focal point of his Christmas greetings to employees of the Vatican on Thursday.

As he does every year, the 杏MAP导航 exchanged festive greetings with Vatican employees and their families ahead of the celebration of the Lord鈥檚 birth.

Hiddenness and littleness

In his prepared remarks, the Holy Father recalled that Jesus鈥� birth reveals God鈥檚 preferred style, 鈥渨hich is neither grandiose nor noisy, but rather a style characterized by hiddenness and littleness.鈥�

鈥淭hese characteristics,鈥� he said, 鈥渃onvey to us the gentle trait of God, who does not come to us to terrify us with His greatness or to impose Himself with His magnificence, but makes Himself present in the most ordinary way, becoming one of us.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis noted that Jesus was born in a simple stable in Bethlehem, as a sign of God鈥檚 desire to be close to all.

鈥淗e is the God of the little ones and the last,鈥� said the 杏MAP导航, 鈥渁nd with Him, we all learn the way to enter the Kingdom of God: not through apparent and artificial religiosity, but by becoming small like children.鈥�

Christian witness at work

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to invite Vatican employees to imitate Jesus鈥� hiddenness and littleness in their daily labors.

鈥淵our work here in the Vatican mostly takes place in daily hiddenness, often doing tasks that may seem insignificant but, instead, contribute to providing a service to the Church and society,鈥� he said.

The 杏MAP导航 urged people employed in the Vatican to bear Christian witness in their relations with their colleagues in a 鈥渟pirit of gratitude, serenity, and humility鈥�.

The Nativity Scene, he added, offers an invitation to simplicity of heart, noting that their work bears fruit and 鈥渢he perfume of joy鈥� even when it is hidden and invisible.

Love makes no noise

The Holy Father extended his Christmas greetings to the families of Vatican employees as well, noting that our world seeks to put everything on display for the world through the window of social media.

鈥淚t's a bit like wanting precious crystal glasses without worrying whether the wine is good,鈥� he said.

However, in the family, appearances and masks count for little, he said, since family life must be filled with 鈥渢he good wine of love, tenderness, and mutual understanding鈥� in order to function well.

鈥淎nd love鈥攁s we know well鈥攎akes no noise,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e experience it in the hiddenness and littleness of daily gestures, in the care we know how to exchange.鈥�

Care and concern within families

杏MAP导航 Francis wrapped up his annual Christmas greetings with an invitation for Vatican employees to care for their families in the model of the Holy Family.

鈥淭his is my wish for you: to be attentive, in your homes and families, to the little things of everyday life, to small gestures of gratitude, to the care and concern for one another.鈥�