"The question the Child asks us with his presence is: Do I let God love me? And again, do we have the courage to accept with tenderness the difficult situations and problems of those next to us, or do we prefer impersonal solutions, more efficient perhaps but lacking the Gospel's warmth? How much does the world need tenderness today! God's patience, God's closeness, God's tenderness."

Vatican City (AsiaNews) - Pope Francis' Christmas Night reflection focused on how we welcome "God's tenderness". As God patiently waited "in front of the corruption of men and peoples" and on Christmas Night brought light to a people who walked in darkness, "Do I let myself be reached by Him, do I let myself be embraced, or do I prevent him from getting closer?" the pontiff pondered.

At the end of the Mass celebrated in Saint Peter's Basilica, he took in his arms the statue of the Baby Jesus placed before the Altar of the Confession and, in procession, brought it to the crèche set up in the Chapel of the Presentation, accompanied by ten children dressed in traditional clothes from different countries of the world, including Korea, the Philippines, Italy, Belgium, Lebanon and Syria.

The liturgy of Christmas Eve, the pope said "presents us with the Saviour's birth as the light that penetrates and dissolves the densest darkness" in which we too walk.

"The origin of the darkness enveloping the world is lost to the mists of time. Let us remember the dark moment when humanity's first crime was carried out, when, blinded by envy, Cain's hand slew his brother Abel (cf. Gen, 4:8). Thus, the unfolding of centuries was marked by violence, wars, hatred, and oppression. But God, who had placed his expectations in man made in his image and likeness, waited. God waited. He waited so long that perhaps at some point he would be bound to give up. However, he could not give up; he could not deny himself (cf. 2 Tim, 2:13). So, he continued to wait patiently in front of the corruption of men and peoples. God' patience. How hard it is to understand this: God's patience towards us! Along the path of history, the light that pierced the darkness revealed to us that God is Father and that his patient loyalty is stronger than darkness and corruption. This is the announcement of Christmas Night. God knows no fit of anger nor impatience; he is always there, like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, waiting to catch a glimpse from afar of the return of the prodigal son, every day, patiently. God's patience."

"In this holy night, as we contemplate the Child Jesus who was just born and laid in a manger, we are invited to reflect. How do we welcome God's tenderness? Do I let myself be reached by Him, do I let myself be embraced, or do I prevent him from getting close? 'But I am seeking the Lord,' we might answer back. However, the most important thing is not to look for him, but to let Him to look for us, find us and caress us with kindness. This is the question that the child asks us through his presence: Do I let God love me? And again, do we have the courage to accept with tenderness the difficult situations and problems of those next to us, or do we prefer impersonal solutions, more efficient perhaps but lacking the Gospel's warmth? How much does the world need tenderness today! God's patience, God's closeness, God's tenderness."

"The response that Christians give cannot be different from the one God gives to our smallness. Life must be approached with goodness, with meekness. When we realise that God is in love with our smallness, that He makes himself small to meet us better, we cannot not open our heart to him, and beg him: 'Lord, help me be like you, give me the grace of tenderness in the toughest circumstances of life, give me the grace of closeness vis-à-vis every need, of meekness in any conflict'."

"Dear brothers and sisters," Francis said in concluding, "on this holy night, let us contemplate the crèche, there "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light' (Is, 9:1). Simple people saw it; people prepared to accept God's gift. By contrast, the arrogant, the proud, those who establish laws according to their own personal standards, those who take attitudes of closure did not see it. Let us look at the crèche and pray, and ask the Virgin Mother, O Mary, show us Jesus!"

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