The prophecy of Isaiah is about to be fulfilled: 'The maiden is with a child and will soon give birth to a son whom she will call "Emmanuel" which means "God is with us".' The Hebrew people could not imagine that the Messiah would be God Himself made man. But a woman, chosen and predestined from all eternity, who had consecrated her virginity to God, renouncing the honour of counting the Messiah among her descendants, becomes precisely the Mother of that Messiah.

We have to approach Christmas with the faith disposition of children, "simply", that is, without prejudice and with our soul wide open to grace. More than that, it is necessary to become completely 'child-like' in order to understand and enter the wonderful mystery of "God made man".

In a few days we shall see Jesus in the manger. This sight will be a proof of God's mercy and love. We will be able to say, "He is God with us ... He is God loving me". And if God becomes man and loves us, how are we going to refuse to seek Him? How are we going to give up hope of finding Him, if He is searching for us?

Neither external difficulties nor our personal wretchedness will separate me from Jesus, our Lord.