|
Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus Message
On Bethlehem, City-Symbol of Peace
"A Peace That Is Laboriously Sought and Awaited"
H.H. Benedict XVI
December 20, 2009
www.zenit.org
Dear
brothers and sisters!
With the 4th Sunday of Advent, the birth of the Lord is now before
us. With the words of the prophet Micah, the liturgy invites us to
look to Bethlehem, the little town of Judea that is witness to the
great event: "And you, Bethlehem-Ephrathah too small to be among the
clans of Judah, From you shall come forth for me one who is to be
ruler in Israel; Whose origin is from of old, from ancient times"
(Micah 5:1). One thousand years before Christ, Bethlehem had given
birth to the great king David, whom the Scriptures concur in
presenting as the ancestor of the Messiah. Luke's Gospel says that
Jesus was born in Bethlehem because Joseph, the husband of Mary,
being "of the house of David," had to return there for the census,
and it was then that Mary gave birth to Jesus (cf. Luke 2:1-7).
The same prophecy of Micah continues, noting a mysterious birth:
"God will give them up," he says "until the time when she who is to
give birth has borne, And the rest of his brethren shall return to
the children of Israel" (Micah 5:2). There is thus a divine plan
that includes and explains the times and places of the coming of the
Son of God into the world. It is a plan of peace, as the prophet
proclaims, saying of the Messiah: "He shall stand firm and shepherd
his flock by the strength of the Lord, in the majestic name of the
Lord, his God. And they shall remain, for now his greatness shall
reach to the ends of the earth. He himself shall be peace!" (Micah
5:3).
Precisely this last aspect of the prophecy -- that of the messianic
peace -- naturally brings us to note that Bethlehem is also a
city-symbol of peace in the Holy Land and in the whole world.
Unfortunately, Bethlehem does not represent an achieved and stable
peace, but rather a peace that is laboriously sought and awaited.
God, however, never resigns himself to this state of affairs. So,
once again this year in Bethlehem and in the entire world, he will
renew in the Church the mystery of Christmas, the prophecy of peace
for all mankind, which commits Christians to face the barriers, the
crises, often unknown and hidden, and the conflicts of their lives,
with the sentiments of Jesus, to become the instruments and
messengers of peace everywhere, to bring love where there is hate,
forgiveness where there is offense, joy where there is sadness, and
truth where there is error, according to the beautiful expressions
of a famous Franciscan prayer.
Today, as in the time of Jesus, Christmas is not a fairytale for
children, but rather God's answer to the drama of humanity in search
of peace. "He himself will be peace!" the prophet says, referring to
the Messiah. We are expected to throw open the doors to welcome him.
Let us learn from Mary and Joseph: Let us put ourselves at the
service of God's plan with faith. Even if we do not fully understand
it, let us entrust ourselves to his wisdom and goodness. Let us
first seek the Kingdom of God and Providence will help us. Merry
Christmas, everyone!
[After the Angelus, the Pope greeted the pilgrims in various
languages. In Italian, he said:]
I address a cordial greeting to the personnel of L'Osservatore
Romano, who, during the Sundays and Wednesdays of the Christmas
season, will set up a stand in St. Peter’s Square, where one can buy
a copy of the newspaper with a little picture of the Nativity. I
wish this initiative well. Besides making the Vatican-daily
available, it will also help to build a school in Democratic
Republic of the Congo.
[Translation by Joseph G. Trabbic]
[In English, he said:]
I greet all the English-speaking visitors and pilgrims here today.
On this fourth Sunday of Advent, we are filled with joy because the
Lord is at hand. We heard in today’s Gospel about Mary’s journey to
visit her cousin Elizabeth. Just as Mary travelled through the hill
country of Judah, to share with her kinswoman the joyful news of
Christ’s coming, so too the Church is called to journey through
history, proclaiming the wondrous message of salvation. As the great
feast of Christmas draws near, I invoke God’s abundant blessings
upon all of you, and upon your families and loved ones at home.
© Copyright 2009 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
Look
at the One they Pierced!
This page is the work of the Servants of the Pierced Hearts of Jesus and
Mary
