Bambinelli

Genesis 49:2, 8-10; Psalm 72 Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever; Matthew 1:1-17

On Sunday Pope Benedict during the Angelus, blessed the Bambinelli, the statues of the baby Jesus that were to be placed in the manger on Christmas. 

He told the crowd gathered that the nearness of God is not a question of space and time; rather it is a question of love: Love is near.  Before the Creche, we taste Christian Joy, contemplating in the face of the newborn Jesus God who drew near to us for Love. 

In today's gospel, we read the genealogy of Jesus.  We trace the roots of Jesus in History, in space and time.  We discover that Love not only has drawn near but it has been drawing near for some time.  The tribe of Judah boast boldly of its humility for God makes himself known through it.  The lion of the tribe of Judah, from whom the scepter shall never depart, draws near in a manger as a "Bambinelli". 

May we let love draw nearer today as we contemplate the face of Jesus in the many we encounter today in space and time.

Excerpt of Pope Benedict's prayer:

God, Our Father, you so loved men to send us your only Son, Jesus, born of the Virgin Mary, to save us and to bring us back to you.

We pray to you, that with your blessing these images of Jesus, who is about to come  among us, be, in our houses, a sign of your presence and your love. 

Good Father, grant us also, our parents, our families and our friends, your blessings. 

Open our hearts, so that we know how to receive Jesus with Joy, do always what he asks and see him in all those who need our love. 

We ask this in the name of Jesus, your beloved Son, who came to bring peace to the world.  He who lives and reigns forever and ever.  AMEN