Who are we, as we stand before the child Jesus? Who are we, standing as we stand before today's children? Are we like Mary and Joseph, who welcomed Jesus and cared for him with the love of a father and a mother? Or are we like Herod, who wanted to eliminate him? Are we like the shepherds, who went in haste to kneel before him in worship and offer him their humble gifts? Or are we indifferent?

How beautiful it is to see that young people are 'street preachers,' joyfully bringing Jesus to every street, every town square and every corner of the earth!

Dear young friends, learn to pray every day: this is the way to know Jesus and invite him into your lives.

Lord, help us to recognize you in the sick, poor and suffering.

God loves us. May we discover the beauty of loving and being loved.

The measure of the greatness of a society is found in the way it treats those most in need, those who have nothing apart from their poverty!

Today, the news is scandals, that is news, but the many children who don’t have food - that’s not news. This is grave. We can’t rest easy while things are this way.