The Nativity narrative, so much in mind as Advent approaches its fulfillment this coming week, provides a glimpse of the humble beginnings into which the Savior was born. Pope Francis calls attention to those living in such conditions in his first message for the World Day of Peace, Jan. 1, in which he attacks the "widening gap between those who have more and those who must be content with the crumbs."

Francis said that huge salaries and bonuses are symptoms of an economy based on greed and inequality and called again for nations to narrow the wealth gap. He called on governments to implement "effective policies" to guarantee people's fundamental rights, including access to capital, services, educational resources, healthcare, and technology.

Titled Fraternity, the Foundation and Pathway to Peace, the pope’s message also attacked injustice, human trafficking, organized crime, and the weapons trade as obstacles to peace. In a fitting footnote to his document, Francis marked his 77th birthday last weekend by celebrating Mass and having breakfast with four homeless people and a dog which belongs to one of them who live near the Vatican hotel where the pope lives.

Homily hint: In the gospel nativity stories Jesus is born into a family that was experiencing temporary homelessness. Pope Francis has said it is a depressing sign of the times that a homeless person dying of exposure on the street was no longer news but a slight fall in the stock market is. What can we do as individuals and communities to change those priorities?

Sources: Articles by Philip Pullella for Reuters and by the Associated Press