Watchful, so we can recognize Jesus. I believe it would do all of us great good to remember the multitude of saints in our communities and parishes—ordinary saints who may never reach the altars, yet lived the beatitudes of justice and charity, mercy and truth, giving their lives for their brothers and sisters with special attention to the small and the poor, to those who suffer.

Truly, we are brothers and sisters of saints and martyrs. How many have worked responsibly, not sparing their lives for the good of others—like a mother caring for her children. How many became servants, tying on the apron of sharing, in humility and sometimes in hiddenness, so that everyone could have what is needed to live.

This difficult time that prepares us to meet the suffering Lord must find us watchful: open in prayer, attentive to the Word—the Word of the good God who loves us with an eternal yet very concrete love, sending us His Son.

How many mothers bend over their children, regenerating them each day in love. Like Mary, bearers of life and hope. Each of us is rich in gifts and talents meant to bear fruit, so that humanity may rejoice in creation, live in peace and fraternity, and taste God’s justice on this earth.

Each year, through the ministry of the Church—His holy people—Jesus, the good shepherd, comes to lead us to His merciful love: seeking the lost sheep and the sick one. Every day we can recognize Him in the poor, the hungry, the marginalized, the rejected, those who suffer violence, prisoners, refugees, those in war, famine, and illness.

Yes, we can do works of goodness, returning to those who have nothing a portion of our well-being as an act of justice. In this time we cry: «Oh, that you would tear open the heavens and come down!» A prayer answered in the Lord’s nearness, who at every moment dwells in our hearts through His Spirit.

Let us continually give thanks to God; let us live in praise and gratitude even amid trials. How beautiful is the prayer of ordinary people—the communal prayer rising to the heavenly Father: «Comfort, comfort my people.» The Lord comes and carries the lambs on His chest.

Come, Lord Jesus, Maranathà. We, according to the promise, await new heavens and a new earth, committing ourselves in this world for the good of all. Christmas fulfills the prophet Isaiah’s dream: «The Lord has sent me to bring good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and release to prisoners.» Therefore we rejoice fully in the Lord.

Even today, the Child Jesus is born in our association “Charity – Sobriety – Silence”: in helping poor and street children, young people with severe disabilities, people with serious mental suffering, youth enslaved by drugs, girls freed from prostitution—making true what the Savior announced to us.

May the Child Jesus always find us joyful: in unceasing prayer, in sharing goods, in blessed fraternity, walking together and always seeking peace.

— Rino Senatore

Missionary: baptized and sent