Pope: Christmas commercial lights and the true light of the world
During the Angelus, Benedict XVI asks children “to remember me” in front of the Nativity scene as he blesses the ‘bambinelli’ statues. Compared to commercial messages and lights, Christ is the true light of the world. True joy is not found in having fun, in “turning away from life’s commitments and one’s own responsibilities,” but in one’s relationship with God. He tells the European members of the Movement for Life, that “the first right is the right to life.”
Vatican City (AsiaNews) – In this period of preparation for Christmas, Christians must not let themselves be “distracted by the lights” and “commercial messages”; they must instead “give things the right value in order to focus on Christ [. . .], the true light of the world,” Benedict XVI said in his reflection in today’s Angelus before the gathering of pilgrims in Saint Peter’s Square, made up by tens of thousands of children and parents from Rome’s oratories for the traditional blessing for ‘bambinelli’, the little baby Jesus statuettes that are placed in the Nativity scenes. After the Angelus, the pope addressed a personal message to the children. “Dear children,” he said, “when you pray in front of your Nativity scene, remember me as well, as I remember you. Thank you and Merry Christmas!”
Earlier, in his reflection the pontiff focused on Advent, which invites us “to live waiting for Jesus, and not stop waiting for his coming.”
“The external environment offers us traditional commercial messages, albeit in a lower key because of the economic crisis,” he noted. However, “Christians are urged to live Advent without letting themselves be distracted by the lights, knowing that they must give things their right value in order to focus on Christ from within. If we persevere “watchful in prayer and exultant in praise,” (ibid.), our eyes will be able to recognise in Him the true light of the world, which comes to bring light to our darkness.”
Speaking about this Sunday (called Gaudete from the initial antiphon), Benedict XVI said that the liturgy “invites to joy, to a happy, not sad watchfulness.”
“True joy,” he explained, “is not the fruit of having fun, in the etymological sense of divertere, that is, turning away from life’s commitments and one’s own responsibilities. True joy is tied to something deeper. Of course, in our often frenzied daily life, it is important to find time for rest and relaxation, but true joy is tied to the relationship with God. Those who met Christ in their life experience in their heart serenity and joy that no one and no situation can take away.”
“True joy is neither a simple and passing state of mind, nor something that we reach with our efforts, but is a gift that is born from meeting the living person of Jesus, giving him space within us, welcoming the Holy Spirit that guides our life. [. . .] We trust him, as Saint Augustine said, in light of his experience. The Lord is closer to us than we are to ourselves: “interior intimo meo et superior summo meo” (Confessions, III, 6, 11)”.
“Let us entrust our journey to the Immaculate Virgin,” the pope said in concluding, “whose spirit has exulted in God the Saviour. May she guide our hearts in the joyful waiting for the coming of Jesus, waiting that is rich in prayer and good deeds.”
After the Marian prayer and before his multilingual greetings, Benedict XVI greeted the European representatives of the Movement for Life who are in Rome for the ‘Mother of Teresa of Kolkata Award’, which is given in memory of Chiara Lubich, founder of the ‘Focolari’ Movement.
“Dear Friends,” the pope told them, “on the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, let us remember that the first right is the right to life. I wish you all the best in your activities.”
Photo: CPP
Earlier, in his reflection the pontiff focused on Advent, which invites us “to live waiting for Jesus, and not stop waiting for his coming.”
“The external environment offers us traditional commercial messages, albeit in a lower key because of the economic crisis,” he noted. However, “Christians are urged to live Advent without letting themselves be distracted by the lights, knowing that they must give things their right value in order to focus on Christ from within. If we persevere “watchful in prayer and exultant in praise,” (ibid.), our eyes will be able to recognise in Him the true light of the world, which comes to bring light to our darkness.”
Speaking about this Sunday (called Gaudete from the initial antiphon), Benedict XVI said that the liturgy “invites to joy, to a happy, not sad watchfulness.”
“True joy,” he explained, “is not the fruit of having fun, in the etymological sense of divertere, that is, turning away from life’s commitments and one’s own responsibilities. True joy is tied to something deeper. Of course, in our often frenzied daily life, it is important to find time for rest and relaxation, but true joy is tied to the relationship with God. Those who met Christ in their life experience in their heart serenity and joy that no one and no situation can take away.”
“True joy is neither a simple and passing state of mind, nor something that we reach with our efforts, but is a gift that is born from meeting the living person of Jesus, giving him space within us, welcoming the Holy Spirit that guides our life. [. . .] We trust him, as Saint Augustine said, in light of his experience. The Lord is closer to us than we are to ourselves: “interior intimo meo et superior summo meo” (Confessions, III, 6, 11)”.
“Let us entrust our journey to the Immaculate Virgin,” the pope said in concluding, “whose spirit has exulted in God the Saviour. May she guide our hearts in the joyful waiting for the coming of Jesus, waiting that is rich in prayer and good deeds.”
After the Marian prayer and before his multilingual greetings, Benedict XVI greeted the European representatives of the Movement for Life who are in Rome for the ‘Mother of Teresa of Kolkata Award’, which is given in memory of Chiara Lubich, founder of the ‘Focolari’ Movement.
“Dear Friends,” the pope told them, “on the anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, let us remember that the first right is the right to life. I wish you all the best in your activities.”
Photo: CPP
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