"Dear children! Today I am carrying my Son Jesus to you, that you may be His peace and a reflection of clarity and joy of Heaven. Pray, little children, to be open to receive peace because many hearts are closed to the call of the light, which changes hearts. I am with you and am praying for you to open yourselves to receive the King of peace, who fills your hearts with warmth and blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call."

Dear children! Today I am carrying my Son Jesus to you, that you may be His peace and a reflection of clarity and joy of Heaven. Pray, little children, to be open to receive peace because many hearts are closed to the call of the light, which changes hearts.

What is the most important thing about Christmas? It is the Baby Jesus. Without Him, Christmas has no meaning. Yet, many people in the world seem indifferent to Him, the One who was born as a human child to bring salvation to the world. They do not seriously ask why He came to this world. In this message, the Virgin Mary tells us what we must do for them. Mary desires that we become people who reflect Jesus’ peace, the clarity of heaven, and joy. Just as a mirror reflects not for itself but for those who look into it, we must reflect these divine qualities for everyone who sees us. For this, we must welcome Jesus into our hearts. Only when Jesus is within us can we experience His peace, the clarity of heaven, and joy, and reflect them for others. That is why Mary says, "Dear children! Today I am carrying my Son Jesus to you, that you may be His peace and a reflection of clarity and joy of Heaven."

       Jesus was born in a cave in Bethlehem and laid in a manger because Joseph’s relatives and the townspeople, including the innkeepers, refused to welcome him, Mary, and the Child in her womb. This naturally reminds us of the words from the Gospel of John: “The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people* did not accept him” (Jn 1:9-11)

       Unlike the people of Bethlehem, the Bible tells us about two groups of people who opened their hearts to the light from heaven. First were the shepherds who were tending their flocks in the fields near Bethlehem. They were not from the village but lived about 2 kilometers away, in what is now called the “Shepherds' Fields.” These shepherds were not welcomed by the people of Bethlehem, but they guided Joseph and Mary, who were in a difficult situation, to a cave that housed animals. Jesus, the Light of the world, never forgot the help He received from them. Besides Joseph and Mary, the shepherds were the first people in the world to see the Savior.

      As soon as Jesus was born, an angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds, and the glory of the Lord shone around them. The angel told them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Then, a great company of heavenly hosts appeared, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” These shepherds were the first to receive the gift of peace from heaven, brought by Jesus.

      When the angels had left them, the shepherds said, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” They believed what the angel had told them. Their hearts were completely open to the call of the light. They went to the cave and worshiped the newborn Savior, praising and glorifying God for everything they had seen and heard. (Luke 1:8-20)

      The second group was the three wise men from the East. Although they were Gentiles, they set out on a journey when they saw the star in the sky announcing the birth of Jesus. Following the star, they arrived at the cave in Bethlehem, where they joyfully offered precious gifts and worshiped the Child. Though they were not Jewish, they knew about the prophecies of the Savior’s birth in the Old Testament and believed that a star would rise when He was born. Every night, they gazed at the sky, eagerly waiting for the star to appear. When the decisive moment came, their hearts were already fully open to the coming of the Savior, and filled with the desire for salvation. In their hearts, the star of salvation had already risen.

      The shepherds and wise men were people of pure hearts who believed in the messages from heaven, and because of that, heaven illuminated them with light. That light opened their hearts even further, granting them the special grace to behold the newborn Savior, Jesus. Additionally, they experienced the great honor of meeting and being welcomed by Mary, the Mother of God. We can easily imagine the joy and gratitude Mary must have felt as she looked upon those who came to worship her Son.

      At the time of Jesus' birth and today, people like the shepherds and wise men are still a minority. Most people are unaware of the light shining upon them and are unwilling to open their hearts to its call. Instead, they are drawn to the fleeting, dazzling lights of the world, running toward them endlessly, much like moths flying into a flame, unaware that they are heading toward their own destruction. Knowing that death and ruin await them, Mary asks us to pray that their hearts may open to the call of the light and peace. Today, we must not only strive to be like the shepherds and wise men but also help others do the same by praying for them.

I am with you and am praying for you to open yourselves to receive the King of peace, who fills your hearts with warmth and blessing. Thank you for having responded to my call.

Love always desires to be together and united. That is why Mary, who always calls us “Dear children,” is always with us. She prays for us because she loves us and wants to give us what is most important and needed: the King of Peace, Jesus. Mary knows that only when we welcome Jesus into our hearts will our hearts be filled with warmth and blessings. This Christmas, let us respond to her loving call by opening our hearts wide to Jesus, the King of Peace, who brings warmth and blessings into our lives.