"May the joy of Christmas encourage us to continue on our journey," invited Pope Leo XIV on the Second Sunday of Christmas in his Angelus address at noon in the Vatican.
The Holy Father began by renewing Christmas wishes to the faithful gathered and by recalling that on the imminent Solemnity of the Epiphany on January 6, the Jubilee Year of Hope will conclude with the closing of the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica.
In this context, the Holy Father recalled that the very mystery of Christmas, in which we are still immersed, "reminds us that the foundation of our hope is God’s Incarnation."
Recalling St. John's words from the Day's liturgy that “The Word became flesh and lived among us” (Jn 1:14), the Pope insisted that "Christian hope is not based on optimistic forecasts or human calculations, but on God’s decision to share our journey, so that we may never be alone as we travel through life."
Our hope is rekindled in God's work in our lives
The Pope explained that this is God’s work. "In Jesus," Pope Leo recalled, God "became one of us, chose to remain with us, and willed to be forever God-with-us."
Our hope, the Pope said, is "rekindled" by the coming of Jesus in the weakness of human flesh.
At the same time, he reflected, it entrusts us with a "twofold commitment" to both God and to our fellow human beings.
Turning to being committed to God, the Pope said that since He has become flesh, having chosen our human frailty as His dwelling place, "we are called to reconsider how we think about Him, beginning with the flesh of Jesus, and not from an abstract doctrine."
Examining our spirituality and expressions of faith
"Therefore," he urged, "we must constantly examine our spirituality and the ways in which we express our faith, in order to ensure that they are truly incarnate."
This, he noted, requires properly contemplating, proclaiming and praying to the God "who meets us in Jesus."
"He is not a distant deity in a perfect heaven above us," the Pope said, "but a God who is nearby and inhabits our fragile earth, who becomes present in the faces of our brothers and sisters, and reveals himself in the circumstances of daily life."
Authentic worship of God requires care for humanity
He said our commitment to all men and women must also be consistent.
"Since God has become one of us," the Holy Father reminded that every human creature is accordingly a reflection of Him, bearing His image and "containing a spark of His light."
"This," the Pope stressed, "calls us to recognize the inviolable dignity of every person and to offer ourselves in mutual love for one another," which, the Pope added, "demands a concrete commitment to the promotion of fraternity and communion," that enables solidarity to become "the criterion of all human relationships."
Christmas joy guiding our way
"God has become flesh; therefore," the Pope warned, "there is no authentic worship of God without care for humanity."
In conclusion, Pope Leo prayed that "the joy of Christmas encourage us to continue on our journey."
"Let us ask the Virgin Mary to make us ever more ready to serve both God and our neighbor," he said.