Dear Nightwatchers! You are not here by chance; each of you is a seeker of God, driven by the desire to know him. As you approach the Crib, you will discover the beauty of his mystery: the Almighty who becomes fragile, the Creator who embraces dependence. In this humble birth, you will be invited to contemplate the unconditional love that manifests itself in weakness, and to recognize that true strength lies in gentleness and humility.
On this night illuminated by the grace of God’s Incarnation, we stand together, our hearts beating with indescribable joy, as heaven opens and God’s promise is fulfilled. “Today, in the city of David, a Saviour has been born to you” (Luke 2:11). These words resonate powerfully in our souls, like a vibrant call to welcome divine love made flesh among us.
Imagine the scene: the night is peaceful, the stars are twinkling, but a bright light pierces the darkness. It’s the light of Christ, the light of our salvation! Saint John tells us: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not received it” (John 1:5). Let’s not close our hearts to this light! On the contrary, let us be enraptured by this love that comes to seek us where we are, in our weaknesses, our doubts and our fears.
This mystery of the Incarnation -etymologically: the taking on of flesh- is an unprecedented act of love. Saint Augustine reminds us that “God became man so that man could become God”. What a marvel! The Creator of the universe chose to make himself vulnerable, to be born in a stable, to show us the depth of his love. Dear friends, this vulnerable love is a fire that must burn within us! It calls us to respond with our own love, to give ourselves totally to the One who gave himself for us. He embraces our weakness to clothe us in his power.
At the Second Vatican Council, the Council Fathers wrote that “The joys and hopes, the sorrows and anxieties of the people of our time, especially the poor and all those who suffer, are also the joys and hopes, the sorrows and anxieties of Christ’s disciples”. (Gaudium et Spes, no. 1). We cannot remain indifferent to the suffering that afflicts our world. The use of weapons and systematic violence in the economic sphere, the armed conflicts that ravage entire regions, and the liturgical crises that weaken our spiritual life are all worrying realities.
Without neglecting environmental issues, growing inequalities, forced migration and the vulnerabilities of our plural societies, it is also crucial to highlight the threat posed by the dictatorship of the single mind.
Tonight, as we celebrate the birth of Jesus, we are invited to become ardent witnesses to his love. For God’s love can transform the world. And it’s far from utopian.
Let us be bearers of this light in the darkest corners of our fragmented societies. Let us be the hand extended to those who suffer, the comfort to those who weep, and the hope to those who despair. To the powerful, let us propose alternatives that promote the life and growth of the whole person. Let us know how to speak of Christ, fully man, through our lives. Gilbert Cesbron, a French humanist, once said: “Christ is not demonstrated, but radiated”.
Tonight, let’s not forget that the first announcement of Jesus’ birth was made to the shepherds, simple, marginal men. This reminds us that God’s love knows no boundaries and makes no distinctions. His light is for all! “To all who received him, he gave the power to become children of God” (John 1:12). What magnificent dignity! We are called to be his children, to share his life, his love and his light. Everyone is invited. Through Christ, we become “Alter Christus”!
So, dear friends, on this night when the sky lights up, let us let our hearts burn with love for God. Let us respond to that love with a renewed commitment to serve him and our brothers and sisters. St. Francis de Sales, my patron saint, used to say: “Speak of God only if you are asked, but live in such a way that others will often ask you.”. St. Francis of Assisi, my second patron saint, stressed the importance of silent witness: “Always preach the Gospel, and if need be, use words.” May this Christmas night be the beginning of a profound transformation within us. May we be filled with the heavenly joy that impels us to love as he did, to give without counting the cost, to forgive without hesitation.
Let us pray together for this light of Christ to shine in each of us, transforming our lives and those of those around us. May our love for God be so ardent that it radiates around us, drawing others to the beauty of his presence. May we be living witnesses to his infinite love every day.
Amen.
Midnight mass is a privileged moment of spiritual encounter and recollection, when the darkness of night is transformed into divine light. As we gather in the peace of this sacred night, our hearts open to the promise of renewal.
It’s an invitation to set aside the preoccupations of the world to welcome the love and joy that the birth of Jesus offers us. In silence and serenity, we are called to meditate on the mystery of the Incarnation, the moment when the divine becomes flesh and illuminates our humanity.
The midnight mass is thus a space of grace, where collective prayer and song lift our souls, uniting us in a common hope. By celebrating this sacred moment together, we are reminded that, even in darkness, God’s light always shines, guiding us along the path of love and peace.
