The period leading up to Christmas tends to inspire — almost universally — gestures of greater human closeness, generosity, and care for the poorest and most needy. In many parts of the world, campaigns to collect goods and meals for the poor, volunteer initiatives, and expressions of empathy intensify during the Christmas season.
But why does this happen? And how does this sensitivity resonate during Advent, especially when illuminated by the Gospel of Matthew, which guides the liturgy of Year A (which we began with Advent in 2025)?
Advent: A time of waiting that transforms the heart
Advent is, above all, a time of inner preparation. It is not just a matter of passively awaiting the birth of Christ, but of disposing our heart to welcome a presence that transforms our life and the way we look at the world. Liturgically, Advent is marked by three spiritual impulses:
- Watchfulness: being attentive to God's signs in life (Mt 24:37-44).
- Conversion: preparing by “preparing the way of the Lord” (Mt 3:1-12).
- Hopeful joy: recognizing that God is near and that this closeness generates new life (Mt 11:2-11).
Each of these impulses has a direct impact on how we perceive others, especially the most vulnerable.
1Vigilance that makes us see those who suffer
The Gospel of Matthew, on the first Sunday of Advent (Year A), invites us to vigilance. Christian vigilance, however, is not a sign of fear, but of sensitivity. Being attentive to the coming of the Lord also means being attentive to the face of our brother or sister, where Christ continually reveals himself. Thus, the spirituality of Advent sharpens our gaze and awakens our conscience: We cannot wait for God to come while ignoring the poor who are before us.
2The conversion that demands justice
John the Baptist appears on the Second Sunday (Year A) calling for conversion. The biblical word for “conversion,” metanoia, implies a change of mentality, attitudes, and priorities. In the reading from the Gospel of Matthew, authentic conversion is linked to the practice of justice, sharing, and concrete care for those in need. Preparation for Christmas, therefore, is not only spiritual but also ethical.
3The joy that springs from God's closeness
On the 3rd Sunday of Advent, Jesus responds to John's disciples by announcing signs of healing, liberation, and good news to the poor. This is the mark of the expected Messiah. Advent, therefore, reminds us that God's presence is manifested in the restoration of human dignity, especially for those who suffer.
Matthew and solidarity: A deeply social gospel
Among the evangelists, Matthew is the one who most emphasizes the connection between faith and concrete practice. Year A, centered on this gospel, offers several texts that explain the disciple's responsibility toward the needy.
One of the most powerful texts proclaimed close to Advent is the scene of the Last Judgment, in which Jesus identifies with the hungry, the thirsty, the strangers, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. Matthew's great revelation is reported in these words of Jesus: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.”
This passage provides the theological basis for Christmas solidarity: Christ approaches humanity in the weakness of a poor child with his birth, and Christ continues to approach us today in the poor who are in need.
Thus, the closer Christmas approaches, the more Christians are invited to recognize the gaze of Jesus in the faces of those who ask for help.
Why does solidarity increase before Christmas?
There are at least four profound reasons — spiritual, cultural, and human — that explain this phenomenon.
The Nativity scene … simplicity and poverty
The Nativity scene, with its simplicity and poverty, reminds us that God chose the periphery of the world. Entering into the mystery of Christmas means confronting the reality of so many families who, like Mary and Joseph, live in precarious conditions, in displacement, deprivation, and exclusion.
Christmas awakens affection, longing, and family ties. This atmosphere fosters a desire for reconciliation, giving, and caring. Generosity becomes almost an extension of the tenderness that Christmas represents.
The liturgical readings, celebrations, and religious atmosphere lead to introspection and repentance. People feel called to “do good” as a form of spiritual preparation to welcome the Baby Jesus.
Year after year, Christian communities carry out solidarity campaigns during this period, reinforcing the importance of sharing in society. Even those who are not believers recognize the cultural power of Christmas as a time of generosity.
Christmas solidarity: Challenge or seasonal habit?
The increase in generosity is a positive sign, but it raises a profound question:
Why are we more attentive to the needy only at Christmas?
From Matthew 25, the message is clear: Charity should not be seasonal, but a way of life. Advent teaches that:
- Those who are vigilant, always see the needy.
- Those who convert, change their relationship with material possessions.
- Those who welcome the Messiah, welcome their brother at any time of the year.
Therefore, the solidarity of December can be a gateway to permanent solidarity.
The solidarity that grows during the Christmas season is no coincidence: It springs from the heart of the Christian message. Advent, especially in the readings from the Gospel of Matthew, reveals that preparing for Christmas is preparing to encounter Christ, who is alive in the poor.
Christmas reminds us that God became small, fragile, and needy. And because we remember this mystery, we become more sensitive to the pain of those who suffer. True Christmas spirituality, however, invites us to take this sensitivity beyond December. We must build a culture of compassion that transforms lives and illuminates the world with the same light that shone in Bethlehem.
