A Light that is the Hope of the People of God

Homily, Christmas Mass during the Night-December 24, 2001.

"The people who walked in darkness / have seen a great light" (Is 9: 2). Isaiah's prophecy promises, amid the darkness, a great light. A light that is the hope of the people of God. A light that gives faith its foundation, its fidelity to God. That light is born in Bethlehem, it is gathered by Mary's maternal hands, by Joseph's affection, by the shepherds' haste. And they took responsibility for the hope of an entire people. Mary took responsibility in her solitude and her surprise when the angel said: "Nothing is impossible with God" (Lk 1: 37), and she believed and took responsibility for the hope. Joseph took responsibility for that hope, when noticing the signs of motherhood and having decided to leave her in secret he listened to the angel's voice and accepted her, even though his heart didn't understand. On that sad night, when all the doors were closed, both took responsibility. They believed that the child was the hope and they took responsibility in that very adverse situation. They took charge when they went to the temple and recognized in these two elders the wisdom of all the people. Joseph and Mary took responsibility of that hope, when faced with the order: "Get up, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him" (Mt 2: 13). Joseph and Mary took responsibility for that hope during those three days of anguish when the Child stayed in the Temple. And she-after so many years-returned to take responsibility for that hope in the dark midday of Calvary.