The Pope appealed to all people that what manifest Christmas in our homes and on the streets should not block the mystery of the Incarnation, which is the meaning of this feast. He liked these preparations and enjoyed them – recalls Archbishop Mokrzycki. Many times he publicly emphasized the construction of the nativity scene and the decoration of the Christmas tree. But, this joy was always followed by the thought of not missing out on what was the most important. That people should not to lose God in this, not to admire the stable without seeing the One who lies there, because out of love He became man, to die on the cross out of love.
“In a few days we will have Christmas” – he said one year to the faithful on the St. Peter’s Square. – Preparations will be made in the houses. Here, too, on the square, we see a nativity scene under construction and a Christmas tree rising to the sky, already decorated with lights that remind us of the proximity of the holidays that evoke so many feelings and memories.” And, he wished, “I offer you my most cordial wishes and I invite everyone not to focus solely on the external aspect of Christmas, reducing it to the rank of a folk holiday, but to discover its profound truth – the truth of the Son of God, who dwelt among us in the humility of the human body”. Once again, the Pope urged us when we will be looking at the Bethlehem stable to be overwhelmed by the same wonder and the same amazement that two thousand years ago accompanied Mary. So that for us Christmas may be a time of encounter with the living God. And, with each other. In truth, love, and forgiveness. If we all listened to him carefully, how beautiful the holidays would be – says the Archbishop with a smile. “If we could resist this shopping fever, this running. Or in other words, since we want to do it let us not lose what is really important along the way. The Holy Father had this in his heart. He was well aware of what dominates our pre-Christmas everyday life. A turmoil of shopping, cooking, cleaning on a chord. So that everything would be ready. On time. For a flash. Beautifully. But, are we ready to receive Christ? Can He live with us?
With the consent of Archbishop Mieczysław Mokrzycki – “Place for everyone”
Znak Publishing House, Kraków 2013.
