Pope at Midnight Mass: The mystery of walking and seeing
Vatican, December 25, 2013: “In this night, as the spirit of darkness enfolds the
world, there takes place anew the event which always amazes and surprises us: the
people who walk see a great light.” Said Pope Francis at the traditional Midnight
Christmas service held at the Vatican’s St. Peter’s Basilica. The celebration
began with Pope Francis placing Baby Jesus in the manger, situated on a little throne
in front of the Altar. While the Gloria was sung the bells of the Vatican Basilica
pealed delightfully while the Basilica got illuminated offering a festive charm. In
his homily during the Christmas Midnight Mass, Pope Francis reflected on “the mystery
of walking and seeing.” Walking, he said, brings to mind the whole of salvation history,
beginning with Abraham, our father in faith. “From that time on, our identity as believers
has been that of a people making its pilgrim way towards the promised land. This history
has always been accompanied by the Lord!” And yet, the Pope said, “on the part of
the people there are times of both light and darkness, fidelity and infidelity, obedience,
and rebellion; times of being a pilgrim people and times of being a people adrift.” Pope
Francis said that in our own lives, too, “there are both bright and dark moments,
lights and shadows. If we love God and our brothers and sisters, we walk in the light;
but if our heart is closed, if we are dominated by pride, deceit, self-seeking, then
darkness falls within us and around us.” “But, on this night,” he continued “like
a burst of brilliant light, there rings out the proclamation of the Apostle: “God's
grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race.” “The
grace which was revealed in our world is Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, true man
and true God . . . He came to free us from darkness and to grant us light.” He declared.
Pope Francis concluded his homily with the plea: “On this night let us share the
joy of the Gospel: God loves us, he so loves us that he gave us his Son to be our
brother, to be light in our darkness. To us the Lord repeats: “Do not be afraid!”
(Lk 2:10). And I too repeat: Do not be afraid! Our Father is patient, he loves
us, he gives us Jesus to guide us on the way which leads to the promised land. Jesus
is the light who brightens the darkness. He is our peace. Amen.”
Below, please
find the complete text of Pope Francis’ homily:
1. “The people who walked
in darkness have seen a great light” (Is 9:1). This prophecy of Isaiah never
ceases to touch us, especially when we hear it proclaimed in the liturgy of Christmas
Night. This is not simply an emotional or sentimental matter. It moves us because
it states the deep reality of what we are: a people who walk, and all around us –
and within us as well – there is darkness and light. In this night, as the spirit
of darkness enfolds the world, there takes place anew the event which always amazes
and surprises us: the people who walk see a great light. A light which makes us reflect
on this mystery: the mystery of walking and seeing. Walking. This verb
makes us reflect on the course of history, that long journey which is the history
of salvation, starting with Abraham, our father in faith, whom the Lord called one
day to set out, to go forth from his country towards the land which he would show
him. From that time on, our identity as believers has been that of a people making
its pilgrim way towards the promised land. This history has always been accompanied
by the Lord! He is ever faithful to his covenant and to his promises. “God is light,
and in him there is no darkness at all” (1 Jn 1:5). Yet on the part of the people
there are times of both light and darkness, fidelity and infidelity, obedience, and
rebellion; times of being a pilgrim people and times of being a people adrift. In
our personal history too, there are both bright and dark moments, lights and shadows.
If we love God and our brothers and sisters, we walk in the light; but if our heart
is closed, if we are dominated by pride, deceit, self-seeking, then darkness falls
within us and around us. “Whoever hates his brother – writes the Apostle John – is
in the darkness; he walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because
the darkness has blinded his eyes” (1 Jn 2:11). 2. On this night, like a burst
of brilliant light, there rings out the proclamation of the Apostle: “God's grace
has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race” (Tit 2:11). The
grace which was revealed in our world is Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, true man
and true God. He has entered our history; he has shared our journey. He came to free
us from darkness and to grant us light. In him was revealed the grace, the mercy,
and the tender love of the Father: Jesus is Love incarnate. He is not simply a teacher
of wisdom, he is not an ideal for which we strive while knowing that we are hopelessly
distant from it. He is the meaning of life and history, who has pitched his tent in
our midst. 3. The shepherds were the first to see this “tent”, to receive the news
of Jesus’ birth. They were the first because they were among the last, the outcast.
And they were the first because they were awake, keeping watch in the night, guarding
their flocks. Together with them, let us pause before the Child, let us pause in silence.
Together with them, let us thank the Lord for having given Jesus to us, and with them
let us raise from the depths of our hearts the praises of his fidelity: We bless you,
Lord God most high, who lowered yourself for our sake. You are immense, and you made
yourself small; you are rich and you made yourself poor; you are all-powerful and
you made yourself vulnerable. On this night let us share the joy of the Gospel:
God loves us, he so loves us that he gave us his Son to be our brother, to be light
in our darkness. To us the Lord repeats: “Do not be afraid!” (Lk 2:10). And I too
repeat: Do not be afraid! Our Father is patient, he loves us, he gives us Jesus to
guide us on the way which leads to the promised land. Jesus is the light who brightens
the darkness. He is our peace. Amen.