Christmas Homily by S.E.R. Cardinal Juan de la Caridad García, archbishop of Havana
What happened on December 25 of the first year of Christ also happens on Christmas 2019 and in the days of our lives.
Like Jesus, Son of God made man, we spent nine months in the womb unconsciously but really feeling the joy of our mothers as they carried us within her as blessed fruit and waited for the day of birth. The days of pregnancy marked our lives forever and also the life of every mother. Every child should ask his mother the story of her pregnancy.
Like Jesus we were carried, bathed, breastfed and enjoyed being hugged, squeezed, kissed by our mother, and our father, our siblings, our grandparents and relatives.
Like Jesus we were educated, taught and guided by our elders in family harmony, honesty, friendship, the promised and fulfilled word and like Jesus, as children, we indicated to our relatives the best path to be happy. Children also teach and it is wonderful to listen to them and follow them as the Virgin and Saint Joseph did with Jesus.
Like Jesus, the Virgin and Saint Joseph, we have felt the friendship of those who visit us out of affection and do not expect anything in return and make us happy in the style of the shepherds of Bethlehem.
Like Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph we enjoy immense joy when together we have lunch, eat, play, walk and it is a beautiful anthological picture to see the husband on the bicycle with the little child in the saddle on the horse, the wife on the grill with two other children on both thighs. The Virgin says to young couples: There is no need to be afraid of having children when they are young; be afraid of being old without children.
Like Jesus, the Virgin and Saint Joseph we accompany neighbors who suffer and are in various difficulties. The mere presence of our entire family gives us peace and strength so that we can continue forward.
Like Jesus and the Virgin praying next to the dying Saint Joseph, so we want to be praying with our sick and dying, so they will be filled with deep satisfaction because the sick and dying, more than anything, want to have their family with them in the last moments of their lives.
Like Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph, together we want to go to the temple, to the Church, to the mission houses to pray, listen to the Word of God, pray for our deceased and receive the extraordinary blessings that God gives.
Like Jesus, the Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph every night we pray, we thank God, we forgive ourselves and we promise God to grow more in love. Thus we sleep in peace and a renewing enthusiasm will permeate the next day.
Going together to contemplate the nativity scene or the Nativity scene in our churches will encourage us to live like the characters we see there and doing the nativity scene together in our home and placing a Christmas tree, a sign of the beauty of the Christian life. , will unite us more in the style of the family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus.
God created us to constitute a beautiful family. God united man and woman in holy love to form a beautiful family. God gave children to parents to be happy united in love and form a beautiful family.
Jesus, Mary and Joseph, help us to form a beautiful family and sing with the angels of Bethlehem: “Glory to God in heaven and peace in my house.”
Little Child of Bethlehem, who spent 9 months in the virginal womb of Mary, accompanies and blesses the blessed fruits of all pregnant women.
Little boy of Bethlehem, make dad and mom be united with their children every day of their lives.
Little boy from Bethlehem, help our family to give Glory to God at home and in the Church, so that there is peace among the whole family.
Little boy of Bethlehem, teach us to treat the old people of the house with love as you did with San Joaquín and Santa Ana, your grandparents.
Little Boy of Bethlehem listen to the pleas that the family presents to you now contemplating the birth. Amen.