The Cross is planted in the earth and would seem to extend its roots in human malice, but it reaches up, pointing as it were to the heavens, pointing to the goodness of God. By means of the Cross of Christ, the Evil One has been defeated, death is overcome, life is given to us, hope is restored, and light is imparted.

Jesus entrusted to them (the Apostles) the gift of "forgiving sins," a gift that flows from the wounds in His hands, His feet, and especially from His pierced side. From there a wave of mercy is poured out over all humanity. Let us relive this moment with great spiritual intensity.

In the course of justice none of us should see salvation. We do pray for mercy and that same prayer does teach all of us to render the deeds of mercy.

The solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul invites us to reflect on the way taken by Peter and Paul as they followed Christ from the day of their calling to that of their martyrdom in Rome. 'He sent them on ahead of him, two by two' (Luke 10:1). We should meditate on the meaning of these words. Do they not suggest that Christ is also sending us out two by two as messengers of his Gospel in the West and in the East?

Thus, in deeds and in words, the Lord revealed His mercy from the very beginnings of the people which He chose for Himself; and, in the course of its history, this people continually entrusted itself, both when stricken with misfortune and when it became aware of its sin, to the God of mercies.

Mary's visit to Elizabeth is a prelude to Jesus' mission and, in cooperating from the beginning of her motherhood in the Son's redeeming work, she becomes the model for those in the Church who set out to bring Christ's light and joy to the people of every time and place.

We cannot appreciate God's infinite mercy if we do not realize we need mercy. We cannot understand salvation apart from our recognition of our need to be saved, rescued, from something namely our sin, which otherwise separates us forever from God.

The Birth of Jesus at Bethlehem is not an event which can be consigned to the past. The whole of human history, in fact, stands in reference to Him: our own time and the future of the world are illumined by His Presence. He is 'the living one' (Rev 1:18), 'Who is, Who was and Who is to come' (Rev 1:4).

At the workbench where he plied his trade together with Jesus, (Saint) Joseph brought human work closer to the mystery of the Redemption.

Contemplation of the lives of those who have followed Christ encourages us to lead a good, upright Christian life which makes us 'worthy of the kingdom of God' (2 Thes. 1:5).

To celebrate the Nativity of Mary is to celebrate a fundamental mark in the History of Salvation. Mary is the link of connection between the Trinity and humanity. Through her body, prepared by God without sin, Jesus comes into the world and fulfills His saving mystery.

Prayer increases the strength and spiritual unity of the family, helping families to partake of God's own strength. Prayer needs to become a regular habit in the daily lives of each family.

Christ is born for us; come, let us adore him! God became man in order to give man a share in his own divinity. This is the good news of salvation. This is the message of Christmas!