Vatican City, Dec 19, 2018 / 04:08 am
Make space for wonder and surprise this Christmas, Pope Francis urged Wednesday, explaining that the first Christmas had many surprises – including that God came into the world as a tiny baby.
The Blessed Virgin Mary was surprised by the Angel Gabriel at the Annunciation and Joseph was surprised by the angel in his dream, which told him to take Mary as his wife, the pope said Dec. 19.
To welcome the Savior there are no powerful people, no ambassadors, just simple shepherds, surprised by the angels while working at night.
"But it is on the night of Christmas that the biggest surprise comes: The Most High is a small child," he said. "To celebrate Christmas, then, is to welcome the surprises of Heaven on earth."