Once again, it is that time of year. It is the season to be jolly and I take pleasure in wishing a very merry Christmas not only to my Christian friends, but to everybody.

Christmas this year coincides with the 175th anniversary of Charles Dickens’s wonderful novel: “A Christmas Carol”, and I admit without shame that Ebenezer Scrooge is my absolute favorite Dickensian character. A Christmas Carol became an icon of the season because it does not focus on religious symbolism but it epitomises the spirit of Christmas.

Christmas is the story of Jesus coming into the world as a vulnerable, needy child. Jesus wants to be altogether approachable, so he comes, not as an austere and aloof aristocrat, but as an innocent baby we are urged to hold in our arms.

As easy as Jesus makes it to “come to Him,” we see that there was “no room” for Him in the Inn. Jesus was relegated to the “last place” meant, not for humans, but for animals.

Following is the text of His Holiness Pope Francis' homily during Mass on Christmas Eve at Vatican Basilica on Monday, 24 December 2018:

Joseph with Mary his spouse, went up “to the city of David called Bethlehem” (Lk 2:4). Tonight, we too, go to Bethlehem, there to discover the mystery of Christmas.

Following is the text of the homily delivered by Most Rev. Archbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem during Christmas Night Mass 2018 in Bethlehem:

“Jesus comes to live in our city”

Mister President,

Esteemed Authorities,

Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate and the Priesthood,

Christmas is fast approaching and our hearts are once again filled with joy. Here, in Bethlehem, the angels proclaim to the shepherds with jubilation in the Holy Night: “For today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” (Luke 2:11-12)

It is passage the meeting of two expectant mothers who experience pregnancy both through their physical journey as well as through their hopes and expectations. They overcome the obstacles standing between them and all they hoped for. Hope is anchored in their most concrete, physical reality.

Two women meet in today's gospel. Both of them are pregnant.

Mary, only about 14 years old and carrying Jesus. She didn't expect to be pregnant just now. She's not yet married and hasn't been with Joseph in that way.

And Elizabeth, maybe late 40s, early 50's. She had given up any hope of having a child. Now she is carrying John the Baptist. The two women embrace and hug and as they do so, Bump meets Bump.

Following is the Vatican-provided text of Pope Francis’ Message for the 52nd World Day of Peace, which is celebrated on January 1st, on the theme: ‘Good politics at the service of peace:’

Good politics at the service of peace

1. “Peace be to this house!”

In sending his disciples forth on mission, Jesus told them: “Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace be to this house!’ And if a son of peace is there, your peace shall rest upon him; but if not, it shall return to you” (Lk 10:5-6).

Advent provides some time for reflection. In particular, it might be helpful for us to reflect on what the significance of the Christ event in Bethlehem was all about. What role did it play in human history? Why is it so vital to the West?

When God speaks, we need a mediator to translate his word. For John, the desert is the place of vocation and the Jordan is the site of his sermon.

On the dawning of a new era, his is “the voice shouting in the wilderness.” He calls out for conversion, for a return to God. He announces a possible future and God’s intervention in the history of mankind. God’s desire is for the re-establishment of justice; justice is God’s will, and he listens to the poor among us.