Monday, December 24 Advent Reflection

St. Pope John Paul XXIII was a remarkable leader. He called the Church to embrace the modern world and was a tireless advocate for peace at a time when nuclear war seemed imminent. In a lot of ways, he made the world smaller — he urged Catholics and all people of goodwill to see a common humanity in one another.

Our celebration of Christmas tomorrow is a time for intimacy with family and friends. Loved ones will spend the day traveling to spend time together in the week ahead. It’s a time for togetherness and unity.

Yet for many experiencing brokenness and grief at this time, this can be a painful season when they realize that their own families feel far from united. Think of someone in your life who might be hurting, especially at this time of year, and send them a message of support.