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Illustration: The “Heavenly Trinity” joined to the “Earthly Trinity” through the incarnation of the Son – The Heavenly and Earthly Trinities by Murillo (c. 1677)
Pope Francis’ Angelus Reflection 2nd Sunday of Christmas 2025
Saint Peter’s Square – Sunday, 5. January 2025
Today the Gospel which speaks of Jesus, the Word made flesh”
Sunday Gospel: (John 1:1-5: 9-14)
In the beginning was the Word: and the Word was with God and the Word was God.
He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men,
a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness and the darkness could not overpower it.
The Word was the true light that enlightens all men; and he was coming into the world.
He was in the world that had its being through him, and the world did not know him.
He came to his own domain and his own people did not accept him.
But to all who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to all who believe in the name of him who was born not out of human stock or urge of the flesh or will of man but of God himself.
The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Pope Francis’ Angelus Reflection
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today the Gospel which speaks of Jesus, the Word made flesh, tells us that “the light has shone in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (Jn 1:5).
It reminds us of the power of God’s love, which is not overcome by anything and which, in spite of obstacles and rejection, continues to shine and illuminate our path.
We see it at Christmas, when the Son of God, made man, overcomes so many walls and so many divisions. He confronts the closed minds and hearts of the “great” of his time, who are more concerned with defending power than with seeking the Lord (Matthew 2:3-18 in footnote below).
Then, he shared the humble life of Mary and Joseph, who welcomed Him and raised Him with love, but with the limited possibilities and the hardships of those without means: they were poor.
He offered himself, fragile and defenseless, to meet the shepherds. (Luke 2:8-48 in footnote below), men whose hearts were marked by the harshness of life and the contempt of society; and then with the Magi (Matthew 2:1 – Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying,) who, driven by the desire to know Him, undertook a long journey and found Him in a house of ordinary people, in great poverty.
In the face of these and many other challenges that seem contradictory, God never stops – let us listen to this clearly, God never stops.
He finds a thousand ways to reach everyone, each and every one of us, wherever we are, without calculation and without conditions, opening even in the darkest nights of humanity windows of light that the darkness cannot hide. (Isaiah 9:1-6 in footnote below).
It is a reality that comforts and encourages us, especially in times like ours, times that are not easy, times in which there is a great need for light, for hope, for peace, a world in which people sometimes create situations so complicated that it seems impossible to get out of them.
But today the Word of God tells us that it is not so!
On the contrary, it calls us to imitate the God of love and to open a ray of light wherever we can, with whomever we meet, in whatever context: family, social, international. He invites us not to be afraid to take the first step – this is the Lord’s invitation today – not to be afraid to take the first step.
It takes courage to do it but let us not be afraid to throw open bright windows of closeness to those who suffer, of forgiveness, of compassion and of reconciliation: these are the many first steps we must take to make the journey clearer, safer and possible for all.
And this invitation resonates in a special way in the Jubilee Year that has just begun, urging us to be heralds of hope with a simple but concrete “yes” to life, with choices that bring life.
Let us do this, all of us, this: this is the way of salvation!
And so, at the beginning of a new year, we can ask ourselves: how can I open a window of light in my surroundings and in my relationships?
Where can I be a ray of light that lets God’s love shine through?
What is the first step to take today?
May Mary, the star that leads to Jesus, help us to be radiant witnesses of the Father’s love for everyone.e.
FOOTNOTES
Matthew Mt 2:3-18
3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it is written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will govern my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star appeared; 8 and he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 When they had heard the king they went their way; and lo, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy; 11 and going into the house they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt have I called my son.”
16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:
18 “A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they were no more.”
(Lk 2:8-18 – 8 And in that region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with fear. 10 And the angel said to them, “Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all the people; 11 for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a babe wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 14 “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!”[a] 15 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste, and found Mary and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it they made known the saying which had been told them concerning this child; 18 and all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them.)
(Is 9:1-6 – But there will be no gloom for her that was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zeb′ulun and the land of Naph′tali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. 2 [b] The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. 3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, thou hast increased its joy; they rejoice before thee as with joy at the harvest, as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, thou hast broken as on the day of Mid′ian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumultand every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”).
