Christmas is a feast of peace. But we must be attentive not to misunderstand the nature of Christ’s peace. The Nativity is the
birthday of the Crucified One, the Man of Sorrows. Nothing is finished at Christmas, on the contrary, everything only begins. Our
entire lives are given to us so that we may return to God. Returning to God and conversion do not happen in a single moment.
They are a process in which we learn to subordinate our will to God’s will and in this way to acquire habits of love.
At Jesus’s birth the song of angels resounded: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among those with whom He is
pleased” (Lk 2, 14). Luke the Evangelist adds that Mary “treasured up all these things and pondered them in Her Heart”.
Jesus is the King of Peace, the Virgin Mary is the Mother of the King of Peace. She desires to give birth to Him spiritually in our
souls and our lives. Therefore without ceasing especially in Her Christmas messages She speaks to us about peace and calls us to
live in peace.
On December 25, 2018 She said in Her message: “Dear children! I am carrying to you My Son Jesus Who is the King of Peace.
He gives you peace and may it not be only for you but, little children, carry it to others in joy and humility”.
On December 25, 2019 She said: “Your heart yearns for peace, of which there is less and less on earth. That is why people are
far from God and souls are sick and heading towards spiritual death”.
On December 25, 2021 Our Lady said: “Little children, without peace you do not have a future or blessing; therefore return to
prayer, because the fruit of prayer is joy and faith, without which you cannot live”.
According to the human logic we would like to impose peace by our own strength and human power among people who are at
war, within our families and in our human relations. However peace does not come by force or human power.
God does not come to us in His glory and divine brilliance, greatness and strength; He was not born in a royal palace and did not
choose luxury. None of this! God comes to us as a little and defenseless Child. Luke the Evangelist writes that this Child was born
during the time of emperor Augustus, a great Roman ruler who considered himself a savior and creator of peace and justice. It
was logical for people to think that peace and salvation could be brought only by one who had power, who was strong, possessed
military might and was rich. Human beings think in this way.
Only God Himself was able to change human logic and say: not in this way! Greatness is not found in power, wealth or strength.
Great is the one whose friend is God!
Pope Leo XIV says to us in his Christmas message: “Sisters and brothers, this is the way of peace – it is responsibility. If each one
of us – at all levels – confessed our sins first and asked God for forgiveness for them, and at the same time put ourselves in the
same place of those who suffer, showing solidarity with the weakest and oppressed ones instead of accusing others then the world
would have changed”.
Let permit God to love us, change us and bestow His peace upon us so that we may carry this peace and give it to others.
Prayer
Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, You grew and walked on the path of faith. You kept in Your Heart all the events and words and
pondered them. Obtain for us also grace for us to accept God into our lives with seriousness. Teach us through Your Heart to
believe and surrender to God’s mercy and love our past, present and future. Virgin Mary, we pray in a special way for Your
intercessory Mantle to rest upon all those who live in unrest and who suffer from the consequences of war and hatred. May they
experience liberation from evil and witness peace which only God can and desires to give to every heart and to every nation.