What does “the Lord is at hand” mean?  In what sense must we understand this “closeness” of God? The Church, illuminated by the Holy Spirit, already at that time understood increasingly better that God’s “closeness” is not a question of space and time but rather of love: love brings people together!  This coming Christmas will remind us of this fundamental truth of our faith and, in front of the manger, we shall be able to savour Christian joy, contemplating in the newborn Jesus the Face of God who made himself close to us out of love.

(Pope Benedict XVI)