In his homily at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, Pope Francis spoke of three comings of Jesus - in Bethlehem, at the end of time and in our lives - calling upon us to imitate the expectant Mary and follow her in the injunction "Come!" He also highlighted the dangers of not living as pilgrims, but as people "holed up in an inn" behind a "Do Not Disturb" sign.

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - "The Lord visits His Church every day! He visits each of us, and so our souls as well [experience something similar]: our soul resembles the Church, our soul resembles Mary," said Pope Francis in this morning's Mass at Domus Sanctae Marthae

Citing Saint Bernard, the Pontiff went on to say that we are personally involved in Christmas, Vatican Radio reported, because Jesus comes more than once. Now "we commemorate his physical birth." At the end of times, he "will come to end history." A "Third coming occurs every day".

The desert fathers said that "Mary, the Church and our souls are feminine, and that what is said about one can be said about the others."

Hence, in describing Mary's wait of the imminent birth, the pope said, "She felt what every women feels at that stage;" she felt the "inside her body, and soul," that the child was coming. She also applied these feelings to "us as Church," who "accompany Our Lady in this journey of waiting," almost eager "to hasten the birth" of Jesus."

"Our soul is also waiting, waiting for the coming of the Lord. It is an open soul that says: ' Come, Lord!'" In the days before Christmas, "the Holy Spirit moves us to recite this prayer: Come! Come!"

During the days of Advent, "we said in the preface that we, the Church, like Mary, are vigilant as we wait." Vigilance "is the virtue" of pilgrims. All of us "are pilgrims!"

"Are we expectant, or are we closed [minded]? Are we vigilant, or are we 'safely' holed up in an inn, on the road, with no wish to go forward? Are we are pilgrims, or are we wonderers? In view of this, the Church invites us to pray 'Come!' in order to open our soul and ensure that at this time it is vigilant and expectant. Keep vigil! Be mindful of the difference the Lord's coming makes (or does not make) in us. Is there room for the Lord, or only for parties, shopping, revelry . . . ? Is our soul as open as that of Holy Mother Church and that of the Virgin Mary, or is it closed behind a polite 'Do Not Disturb!' sign on the door?"

"Now, repeat 'Come!' many times," he said in concluding. "'Come, Lord Jesus!' and try to make sure that our soul is not one of those that say 'Do not disturb'. No! Make sure that it is an open soul, a great soul, one that can receive the Lord at this time and begin to feel what the Church will say tomorrow in the antiphon: 'Today, you will know the Lord is coming, and in the morning you will see his glory!'"

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