In his first Christmas Message as the new Custos of the Holy Land, Fr. Francesco Ielpo recalls the Child laid in the manger as the sign of a God who draws near in fragility.

He invites us to look at the Holy Land with hope, to pray for peace, and to recognize God’s presence among the poor and in the wounds of the world, welcoming the light that is born.

“She gave birth to her firstborn son, wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger.” (Luke 2:7)

Jesus is born in a makeshift place, humble and unsuitable. The disruptive image of Christmas is smallness.

Here in Bethlehem we contemplate a small God. A stable becomes the place of the infinite.

The holiest liturgy is celebrated on straw, with the sharp smell of manure, in the caresses of a mother and in the cry of a child.

Once again, Jesus is not afraid to descend to the lowest point of our humanity, made of violence, sin, pain, tears, and hardship.

Once again, He is born and asks us, just as we are, to be a cradle for Him, with the poor straw of our fragility.

He is laid in the manger to become food, nourishment of hope for all humanity.

By looking at Him, contemplating Him, and imitating Him, we can begin again with renewed hope.

In the stable of humanity, we are not alone.

Jesus is born for us.

Fr. FRANCESCO IELPO, ofm
Custos of the Holy Land