Pope Francis has called for Sobriety and vigilance as we prepare for Christmas

During his Sunday Angelus, Pope Francis commented on the start of the liturgical season of Advent and how Jesus visits humanity. First, during the Incarnation and birth in Bethlehem, daily, with His "consoling presence” and finally, how He will come again in the last judgement.

He said the Word of God has the ability to reveal the contrast between the daily routine and the surprise coming of Christ, which could come any day or any moment.

According to Pope Francis: "The Gospel does not want to scare us, but to open our horizon to another dimension, largest, which on one hand relativize things every day but at the same time makes them precious, decisive. The relationship with the God-who-comes-to-visit gives every gesture, every thing in a different light, a thickness, a symbolic value.”

The pope said this perspective and idea of being alert is an invitation to sobriety, not being governed by the material goods of the world, but rising above them.

POPE FRANCIS
"If, on the other hand, we allow ourselves to be overpowered by a concern for material things, we will not be able to perceive what is much more important: the final encounter with the Lord. It is an invitation to vigilance, because, not knowing when He will come, we must always be ready to depart.”

Pope Francis also said he is praying for those impacted by natural disasters, especially people in Costa Rica and Nicaragua who have been affected by hurricane Otto and a 7.2 magnitude earthquake.

POPE FRANCIS
"Dear brothers and sisters, I would like to assure you of my prayers for the people of Central America, especially Costa Rica and Nicaragua, affected by a hurricane, and the latter, also by a strong earthquake.”

The Sunday morning crowd was very lively, especially one group from Ecuador, who carried a statue of the Virgin Mary on a bed of white roses.

Source:

http://www.romereports.com/2016/11/28/pope-s-invitation-to-sobriety-and-vigilance-as-preparation-for-christmas