In the Paul VI Hall, the Pope received three delegations from the Italian cities of Sutrio, Rossello and Guatemala, who this year presented spruces and two nativity scenes for Christmas. The Pope invited them to reflect on the importance of silence, which helps us “get closer to God”.
(Vatican News Network) to meet Jesus, one must come where He is, one must bend down and bow one’s head in the stable where the Son of God was born. On 3 December Pope Francis received in the Paul VI Hall three Italian delegations from the cities of Sutrio, Rosello and Guatemala. The first two cities presented Christmas trees and a nativity scene, while Guatemala presented another nativity scene, which was placed in the Paul VI Hall.
The Pope began by expressing his gratitude for these Christmas gifts, especially to the carpenters, young people and all those who grew fir trees who took part in this work. The Pope then recalled that the Christmas tree and the crib are “symbols that continue to attract adults and children”. Like trees, people too need roots.
“Only a man who puts down roots in fertile ground can stand still, grow, ‘become mature’ and resist strong winds, a point of reference for those who look at him. But without roots nothing is possible: without a company it is important to take root in life and in faith. In this regard, the Apostle Paul reminds us to take root in life in order to remain steadfast. He says that we are ‘rooted in Jesus Christ’ (cf. Col 2:7). Tree reminds us of this. Be rooted in Jesus Christ”.
The Pope then spoke of the nativity scene, noting that it reminds us of how God became man to be accessible to all. Through the crib we can discover the essence of Christmas. “The nativity scene, in its innocent simplicity, makes us discover the true richness of Christmas and purifies us from all the aspects that pollute the Christmas landscape. Simple and intimate, the nativity scene evokes a different Christmas from consumption and commodification, it is another What”.
“The manger reminds us how beneficial it is to watch silently and pray on days when we are often overwhelmed by vehemence. Silence helps to contemplate the Child Jesus, to get in touch with God, with the tender simplicity of newborns, with the sweetness with which He lay there, and the intimacy with which the tenderness of the swaddling clothes wrapped him was established».
The Pope therefore invites everyone to be humble in order to truly encounter Jesus and discover him in the place where he was born. Jesus is Emmanuel, God with us. “If we really want to celebrate Christmas”, the Pope said, “we must look through the crib to discover the surprise and amazement of the little one, of God’s little one. God made himself humble, he was not born in splendor and riches. ” , but in the poverty of the stables.”
“To meet Jesus, one must go to him, where he is, one must bend down, be humble before him and abandon all vanity. To say a word of thanks in front of this gratuitous love, prayer is The best way is to thank Jesus for the his desire to enter our homes, to enter our hearts”.
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