Our readings today are full of joy and rejoicing. By proposing the figure of Saint John, the Baptist, the Gospel reminds us that full adherence to the Christian vocation, the response to God’s call, is the source of joy and allows us to arrive at the evening of life by living – like John the Baptist – as true witnesses of Christ. The Birth of Jesus has a special fascination for everyone in the world. I have seen the word “Noel, Christmas, Navidad, Natale” written also in countries and towns where Christians are a small minority. It may be an excuse to increase spending, however, a charm and a longing for peace and joy remain. It is as if, remembering the birth of Jesus, the God with us, can really revive hope and joy in these difficult times. In the proximity of Christmas, today the Church gives us a taste of the great joy that God has given us with Jesus. John came as a witness, sent by God to bear witness to the Light. He does not bear witness to the greatness, the majesty, the power of God, but to the Light of Love, to the light of a Presence. John testifies that the world is based on a principle of light so that it is much more worthy to light a lamp than to curse the darkness. Each one of us is given the prophetic ministry of the Baptist, to be announcers of the light that illuminates the world and saves it. We must be -like St. John – witnesses of hope and future, of a God who is Light. Each one of us is a person sent by God, called to be a witness to the light. The strength of John is not to shine for himself, but to spend his life so that the light can be seen. And God is the light that enlightens even the greatest darkness. It is now up to us, as a person and as a Christian community, to imitate the Baptist showing to the world a Christ already present in the world. We, ordinary people, are called to make known to many the One who is among us. Weak, we are strong; sad, we are happy because the Lord comes and germinates the earth making it again a garden where freedom, fraternity, and mercy are not only announced, but practiced, lived, and shared. Christ needs us Christians to make Him and his spirit present to the world today. How can we be a witness to the light if we are living in darkness? All of us can make a difference to brighten up this world, our witness, however small and insignificant, our message is important, as a community let us bring this message of hope and joy to a broken world and especially to those people that we meet this Christmas. A man was driving home one evening, he was unemployed and was out looking for a job. It was a lonely road and it was a cold winter’s evening.  It was starting to get dark and light snow flurries were coming down.  He almost didn’t see the old lady, stranded on the side of the road.  But even in the dim light of day, he could see she needed help. So, he pulled up in front of her Mercedes and got out.  Even with the smile on his face, she was worried.  No one had stopped to help her.  He said, “I’m here to help you ma’am. Why don’t you wait in the car where it’s warm?  By the way, my name is Bryan.” Well, all she had was a flat tire, but for an old lady, that was bad enough.  Bryan replaced the flat tire for her.  She asked him how much she owed him. Bryan never thought twice about the money. This was helping someone in need.  He told her that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance that they needed, and Bryan added “…and think of me”.   It had been a cold and depressing day, but he felt good as he headed for home. A few miles down the road the lady saw a small restuarant. She went in to grab a bite to eat. Her waitress came over and brought a clean towel to wipe her wet hair. She had a sweet smile, one that even being on her feet for the whole day couldn’t erase. The lady noticed that the waitress was nearly eight months pregnant, but she never let the strain and aches change her attitude. The old lady wondered how someone who had so little could be so giving to a stranger. Then she remembered Bryan. After the lady finished her meal and the waitress went to get change for her, the lady slipped right out the door.  She was gone by the time the waitress came back. She wondered where the lady could be, then she noticed something written on the napkin under which were 4 €100 Euro notes.  There were tears in her eyes when she read what the lady wrote.  It said: “You don’t owe me anything, I have been there too. Somebody once helped me out, the way I’m helping you. That night when she got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the lady had written. How could the lady have known how much she and her husband needed it? With the baby due next month, it was going to be hard. She knew how worried her husband was, and as he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered softly and lowly, “Everything’s going be all right; I love you, Bryan.”