The arrival of a child into a family is a great occasion of Joy. I remember when my first niece was born into our family, every one of us were happy and proud to have a new member in our family. We all gathered in my brother’s home, taking a good look and touch at baby Pauline. The child has indeed brought joy and happiness within our family.
As much as the baby is welcomed and loved in our family, with her, there came a bit of stark reality that cannot be overlooked. We know this child is going to cost a lot of changes in the lifestyle of the family. We realized that with baby Pauline, each and every one of us has to assume New responsibilities and lifestyle as her lolo, lola, auntie, uncle, nanay and tatay. As much as the baby brings joy into our family, she will also bring changes into our family, making our life different and will never be the same again.
In the same way, the birth of Jesus is a reason for great joy, not only to Mary and Joseph, to shepherds and kings, but also to the world and to us all. Jesus, the Word of God made flesh and lived among us, is God’s greatest gift to us – a savior has been given us. Because of his great love for us, through Jesus, God became like us and stayed with us. Is’nt that great?
But we all know that this has brought great joy as well as great changes in our lives because as Jesus became part of our lives, life has never and will never be the same again. Jesus, God’s gift to us, is not like the gifts we receive this Christmas, like shirt or pants that we will sometimes use, or books that we may never read at all, or good food we will eat, or a figurine we will just decorate.
God giving us the gift of His son is like having a new baby, a new member in your family. Inasmuch as it brings great joy in our family, it also entails a lot of responsibilities and a lot of changes, making our lives different and never the same again.
To celebrate Christmas is to receive once again Jesus, in our very lives, in our homes and our families. It is not enough just to welcome and love Him as our guest; we also have to invite Jesus to stay and be a member in our homes and family to bring about joy as well as changes in our life.
Aside, beyond, and above bonuses, gifts, parties, decorations, holidays, food and drinks, Christmas is our acceptance of the Word of God made flesh into our own lives. It is about receiving a Child into our hearts and life in our own very home. It is about receiving anew God’s child Jesus to be part of our own lives always.
Particularly today, on this Christmas day, spent quality time with your own family in your home. Remember that the first family who has accepted you as you are, and who you choose to be with is your own family. It is within a family that the Word of God became flesh & lived with us. So, also within our family, however broken & imperferct it may be, that the Lord has blessed & loved us always. So again, take this moment to spend quality, either face-to-face or virtually with our own family for Home is where we came from, where we receive our Lord, and where God’s change happens in our lives.
Have a Blessed Christmas Season within our Home. Amen.
Have you been in love? I am sure that we have all been in love. The first time I realized that I was in love, it made me restless until I could have a glimpse of her. I realized that my attitude towards her had changed. I suddenly became more caring and thoughtful towards her. Though that puppy love did not last as it was based on emotional and physical attraction only, but that gave me a bit of understanding how love can change a person’s behavior.
With that, how would we define love? What love is, then? According to my Tita, Miss Meriam-Webster, she gave 9 different definitions of love. Yet, I am not personally satisfied with her definitions since most are descriptions of love. Well, she said that love is a strong affection towards another, or attraction based on sexual desire, or based on admiration, or devotion, or an assurance of affection or a concern for another, etc.
Moreover, our Christian understanding of Love is much deeper than that. It is beyond romantic love, beyond physical attraction or emotional attachment. Love is more concrete than those definitions.
And so, I would like to change the question, rather than asking, “What is love?,” we change it to, “Who is love?” By changing the question to who, this means that love is a person who concretely shows to the beloved the love. Yes, love is a person, God’s self-revelation is love and made visible through Jesus. What the whole church celebrates today is the story of love being revealed to us, in our human history. It is love who creates, liberates, gives life and gives hope for today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord, as the Psalm proclaims to us.
And so, allow me now to go a bit deeper into the Sacred Scriptures revealed to us tonight and allow the Lord to call and to empower us through this love personified.
Friends, there was darkness, a terrifying one that haunts and overwhelms many. This is what Prophet Isaiah told us in the first reading where people walked in darkness and lived in the land of gloom. These are images of suffering, of pain, trauma, sorrow and grief, guilt and shame, sin and evil. Until now, this darkness remains in us. The trauma children experience from irresponsible parents and dysfunctional families, the lingering hatred and anger in our hearts, the desire to manipulate and abuse others, the indifference of many towards those who are suffering, the greed for power, wealth and comfort by the rich and privilege, the seemingly endless calamities that caused millions of deaths and the overwhelming anxiety and fear to us including this pandemic that is still around us, the cruelty of war and terrorism in some parts of the world, the corruption and culture of violence in our society – these are all images of darkness!
Isaiah tells us again, whatever that is burdening us or anything that is enslaving us, he will smash, not with violence, but with forgiveness, with love. Whatever hatred and anger, indifference, desire for revenge and war, he will burn and stop them, because he brings peace and reconciliation. This is love in person!
Yet, as Isaiah also told us, that those who walked in darkness have seen a great light and those who lived in the land of gloom a light has shone. Despite the darkness that envelopes us, as this night reminds us now, there is hope! For a child is born to us, a son is given us; upon his shoulder dominion rests! However, his power is not overpowering, not imposing. Because he is rather gentle, this child is named Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero, Father-Forever, Prince of Peace. And this is love in person!
Now, the Gospel of Luke recounts to us tonight how this love in person was born and in contrast to our Christmas celebrations these days, his birth was almost ignored. Luke tells us that Mary wrapped the baby Jesus, the love in person, in a “swaddling clothes and was laid in a manger because there was no room for them in the inn.” In that first Christmas, there was no Christmas tree, no colorful Christmas lights or Christmas balls and lanterns. There was no happy and festive Christmas gathering on the day of birth of Jesus. Yet, this is love in person!
In fact, the baby boy was laid in a manger, a long open box for horses or cattle to eat from. There was no crib at all. The love in person was born poor. And in the midst of these, there was so much indifference around. Luke told us that there was no room for them in the inn and no one offered the couple to have at least a decent place to stay. People must have seen that Mary was about to give birth. But many did not care! Many did not show attention to a mother who was about to give birth. Many did not dare to help. Can we not feel the indifference here? Can we not feel the cold hearts of people here? Can we not recognize the unwelcoming hearts of many?
Many have gathered at that time because people were going home for the census decreed by the emperor of Rome. This means that there were plenty of people and as relatives would gather, there were parties around, yet, they remained unmoved and unconcerned to Joseph and Mary. The relatives of Joseph could at least help them, yet, there was no one except the animals as depicted in our Christmas Manger.
Again, the very situation of the birth of Jesus was filled with darkness, with unwelcoming and apathetic hearts. However, the Lord cannot be stopped. His love cannot be prevented. This is why even in the midst of these, Mary give birth to Jesus, the light of the world, the Prince of Peace, the love in person. This is God’s declaration to us, that his love is bigger than anything else. God’s love is more powerful than evil. God’s presence is warmer than our indifference. And this is love in person!
This is the very reason also why the birth of Jesus was first announced not to the dignitaries, not to the rich and politicians of the community, not to the leaders and business people of the society, not even to the priests of the temple, but to the shepherds in the field.
The shepherds were considered as outcasts because many of them at that time were the younger sons who cannot inherit any land from their fathers. They were landless and poor. They were considered unclean because of their work. They smelled bad because of the dirt, manure and blood they got from the sheep. The rest of the community would never welcome them in their households that is why they would always sleep there in the field with the sheep.
Yet, it was to them that the angel announced the birth of Jesus. They were the very first ones to receive the good news of great joy for all the people. This is what Paul in his letter to Titus declared to us as well, that the grace of God has appeared, saving all. However, the first ones to receive the good news were the least and the unwanted in the community. This is God’s statement again that God is for the abandoned and for the forgotten, whose life have been darkened by those who were indifferent.
What does this tell us? What is Jesus, the love in person, inviting us now? You will all be going home after this mass, gather as family and those who are close to you, celebrate His birth with joy and festivities, yet, never forget how the Lord was born tonight amidst all the darkness and indifference around us. There are at least three invitations that I would like you to bring tonight.
First, let the Love in Person be reborn tonight and change us. Jesus is reborn in us when we allow our dark guilt and sin to be accepted, confronted and forgiven; when we allow our painful and traumatic experiences become ways for us to discover hope and freedom; when we recognize that we need the Lord and his gift of salvation; when we allow the Lord to change our way of living for ourselves into living for others.
Second, make a room. Let us have the courage to confront our cold and indifferent heart that cancels and excludes those who are different from us. We make a room for others when we stop being indifferent and begin to care and to show genuine concern without any hidden agenda; and when we are able to recognize that we are all brothers and sisters in need of love and mercy.
Third, let our fear be transformed into joy. Remember this, Christmas happens every day because God comes to visit us every day. Thus, let his peace dispel our fear now. Let his love assure us daily and make us confident so that we may not anymore fear what our future will be, so that we may not be afraid for not having enough but be more contented today, so that we may not anymore fear to take the risk of loving and giving ourselves for others. May we let Jesus, the love in person fill us with joy. Ok lang? Sana all.
For those who have the means, one cause of stress during the Christmas season is what gifts to give to one’s loved ones? This is especially so if they seem to have all that they need and are not wanting for anything else. We do not want to give gifts that will only end up in the cupboards or recycled as gifts to others.
Godparents get perplexed when having to think of the appropriate gifts to their godchildren who do expect something from them during the Christmas season. It is easy enough when they were kids, as there is a variety of toys to choose from. And kids love any toy that they receive especially the ones popular at the moment. But when they reach adolescent or early adulthood, one wonders what gift they would appreciate. To be safe, godparents resort to just giving gift cards of superstores or outright cash.
OFW parents are even more pressured if they are not at home for Christmas. To compensate for their absence during this season, they spoil their kids and it could turn out to be expensive as kids demand gadgets that could cost a fraction of their salaries. But it is not just their children expecting gifts but the whole clan which explains the phenomenon of those big Balikbayan boxes that flood our airports at this time of year.
And additional source of anxiety these days is the impact of inflation and the ensuing high prices of commodities on one hand, while salaries have no correspondingly increased. Some companies even could no yet afford to give a 13th month bonus. Considering the high costs of Christmas with demands for a delicious noche buenas and other expenses, there is hardly left to buy gifts.
On the other hand, there is also an interesting development in terms of undermining the crash commercialism that has characterized the Christmas holiday season. To make sure that they are not held captive by the pressure to go to the malls and shop till they drop, they refuse to even buy anything. Instead the more altruistic ones would rather distribute goods to the needy or give their money to charitable institutions or cause-oriented groups. We can only hope that this kind of movement would expand and more people are involved in spreading Christmas cheer among our less fortunate sisters and brothers.
If there is someone out there who wonders how best to respond to the question – what gifts to give to loved ones? – let me offer this reflection. At a most recent time when I thought I was already destined to depart from this earth, I asked myself what was it that I would miss most? Or what would I have no difficulty letting go? I realized I could let go of:
– Ice cream, halo-halo and all those wonderful pastries in bakeshops
– A really delicious meal in a fancy Vietnamese restaurant
– Bagel, croissant, pretzel and those freshly-baked bread
– A swim in the warm waters around the islets of El Nido, Palawan or in a lagoon underneath a waterfalls
– A fabulous sunrise or a gorgeous sunset with the wind caressing the coconut trees
– A climb up the mountain and then viewing a sea of clouds
– Travels to Baguio and Bali, Paris, New York or Rio de Janiero
– Films of Kurosawa and Trauffaut, concertos of Mozart and Bach
– The best of Filipiniana films, music, art and literature
– Songs of Simon and Garfunkel, the Beatles and Frank Sinatra
It goes without saying that I would not let go of my faith in the Triune God and of God’s plan of salvation that continues to unfold. To have been gifted with this faith has led many to a meaningful life allowing me a glimpse of what is God’s promise for humanity. It has also brought me to many communities where I could inter-act with peoples of great charm and generosity. It allowed me to experience moments of peace and great joy. And it brought into my life many co-believers to be able to constitute communities of mutual support, deep affection and compassion for each other.
Then I realized there was one thing I would not let go for I would miss this very much. And it is this: the love and affection of family, confreres and the closest friends especially those whose friendships have lasted a lifetime. Who I am today and what I have accomplished in my life may be due to their support, encouragement and prayers. The wonderful moments I have enjoyed through my life – especially at certain special occasions – were in their company. There was utter happiness that could only arise in their presence. If there are memories to keep in my heart, their faces would appear.
Indeed, the gifts of kinship, confrereship and friendship are the most precious gifts for me. And these are gifts given from Christmas season to Christmas season as well as throughout the years. These need not be wrapped in fancy paper and silk ribbons for these are offered from the heart. Every Christmas, I have always felt blessed because I knew I continue to receive these precious gifts. If I have these gifts, really what else do I need?
So, dear reader, do not worry what gift to give your loved ones. By embracing them in your heart, wishing and praying for their well-being, assisting them in their times of need and loving them in a manner that makes them feel deeply appreciative – you would have given the most precious of gifts!
Normal for any man to defend himself when being held accountable for the things he did not do. Normal for us to ask why and to demand justice for being held responsible for the actions we did not commit. Saan ang hustisya pag ako o tayo ay ipapanagut sa mga bagay na di naman natin ginawa? As today’s Filipino young people would say: #Nagmahal #Nasaktan #Pinapanagut (#Loved, #Hurt #Being Held Accountable for).
In our gospel today, we hear the story of the birth of Jesus as experienced by Joseph. If we really come to think of it, Joseph’s experience of the birth of Jesus is a story of being Pinapanagut or being held accountable for something not-yours. Joseph’s experience of Jesus’ birth is also a story of “Nagmahal, Nasaktan, Pinapanagut”
Obviously, Joseph Nagmahal (Joseph has loved). He loved his wife-to be Mary very much. He is willing to grow old and have a family with Mary. He is a just and righteous man who will do everything for his marriage and family to-be. But Joseph also Nasaktan. Joseph was also hurt by what happened. Who would not be hurt and pained when you just learned that your beloved is already pregnant before you lived together and the baby is not-yours? Ang sakittttttt. Can we blame Joseph for planning to quietly divorce Mary? We can easily relate with the broken-hearted Joseph. With such hurt and pain, others would even say: “Walang Forever” There is no such thing as forever.
And worse, Joseph Pinapanagut. Joseph is being held responsible and accountable for all of these things. If it is hurtful and hurting to learn that your wife to-be is already pregnant of a baby who is not-yours, how much more if you are pinapanagut – being held accountable and responsible for the baby? If you are Joseph, are you willing to take responsibility? Are you ready and willing to take responsibility for the so-called “unwanted” child? Would you still love your “unfaithful” wife to-be who is now pregnant with a child not-yours?
This is the story of Joseph as He experienced the birth of the Messiah. A story of being held accountable for something and someone not-yours. Nagmahal, nasaktan, pinapanagut sa hindi kanya. Loved, hurt, and being held responsible for something or someone not-yours.
The story of Joseph is also the story of our salvation. As the Lord offers us His beloved Son into our lives, we are asked to be like Joseph, i.e. to be held responsible for God and others – someone and something not-ours. Pinapanagut tayo. Like Joseph, we are being held accountable for His Son Jesus, for the sake of God and others, and not for our own sake. Pinapaangkin sa atin ang Kanyang Anak – to accept His son as our very own. And in doing so, in taking responsibility for God, like Joseph, we will love and be hurt along the way, and will be held accountable for something or someone not-ours.
Because, only by taking responsibility and be held accountable for Jesus like Joseph, God’s grace and salvation continues to prosper and fulfill into our lives today. Thus, God’s incarnation requires our Responsibility, (response-ability) our ability to response for God’s sake than ourselves.
Here we have much to learn from Joseph himself. As he went through the difficult experience of being accountable for God’s Son, he always honors and only listens to God’s message to him. Despite his confusions, frustrations, and broken-heartedness, Joseph simply listens to God’s message, honors God’s will, and hopes on God’s promise of Emmanuel “God is with us”, being responsible and accountable for Him. By always honoring and listening to God’s will and message to us, we become more responsible for Emmanuel, God with us.
Christmas is already near upon us. Actually the Lord has already came and arrived into our lives. But do we welcome Him into our lives? Do we follow Him and let Him change and influence our lives? Are we willing to be held responsible and accountable for Him, our God with us?
The requirements of Advent for us to “Be awake & Be Prepared”, to “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand”, to “Go and Tell others what we have seen & heard” & to “Not be Afraid to take home” the Holy Family into our lives now are enough preparations for us to receive & celebrate once again & anew God’s blessings upon us now & forever.
We pray then that like Joseph and Mary, we may be willing responsible and accountable people and parent for the Lord into our lives by always listening and responding to God’s message and will for us. Amen.
Each of us is a product of our vast family history. It is not that we are doomed and chained by the past, but we are being enriched by a vast history. Our families have our own history of both joys and sorrows, failures and successes, of horrors and victories.
Our family history tells us who we are and it is part of our identity. It is also very important that we become in touch with our own family history and see how God works within our stories. Besides, knowing our family history, this will be an opportunity for us to allow God to heal our broken and painful past present in our family history.
Let me bring you now on how God works within a human family and how God reveals the Divine Plan in the family history of the whole humanity.
The first reading from the Book of Genesis tells us how Jacob called his sons and bestowed the blessing to Judah the fourth son. The blessing also contains the prophecy of the rise of a King, in the person of David, the very lineage of Jesus claimed in the Gospel of Matthew.
This family of Jacob was filled with guilt and shame. The lineage had stories of repeated unfaithfulness and scandalous personalities. Jesus’ lineage is not perfect and not wholesome at all.
Thus, we find Judah who sold his own brother, Joseph for money. King David who raped Bathsheba and then later ordered to murder her husband. Rahab, who was a prostitute. King Ahaz burned his own son alive as a human sacrifice. King Joash committed idolatry against Yahweh and murdered the people in the Temple area. The once revered King Solomon who built the Temple of God but later on, turned to be unfaithful by turning to the gods and goddesses of his many wives.
In this kind of family history, is there any good news here, when in fact, Jesus did not come from a “good” and “blameless” family?
Despite the unfaithfulness and guilt within this family history, God never wavered His plan to make something good, wonderful and beautiful in this family. The Gospel of Matthew that has been proclaimed today, contained a long list of generations until the birth of Jesus.
Matthew recorded the family tree of Jesus with 42 generations divided into three, that makes it 14. 14 is the equivalent of two 7. Seven is a perfect number in Jewish belief. And the repeated use of 7 means that God works in this human family in an absolutely perfect way. The family tree though not perfect but with traces of sins and unfaithfulness, God works within this human family to bring healing and life.
The family tree and history of Jesus is God’s statement to us that God indeed journeyed with us, in all our humanity, in all our sins and unfaithfulness. Jesus, being born in a human family, tells us that God fully embraces our humanity. With our imperfection, God made it to be the very space for us to encounter him and to know him. Indeed, this also speaks to us that we are all products of our own family stories as well as of God’s story who never abandoned us or wavered his faithfulness to us.
This calls us now to own and recognize the gift of our family. Some of us must have been traumatized and carrying deep wounds because of what happened in our family, others could have been divided because of conflict over material possessions. Many families are also struggling to live because of so much poverty. Yet even with these imperfections, God invites us today, that as we recognize our sins and failures, God also tells us to recognize how God unfolds blessings and graces in our human family.
And so on this second day of the Misa de Aguinaldo, we pray for our own family history, we pray for peace and reconciliation, we pray for healing and freedom so that anything that holds us back, traumatizes us, or haunts us may be healed and be given peace. As for this grace, so that as we will celebrate the birth of Jesus, who has come as part of the big human family, may also bless our families. Kabay pa.
A DOSE OF GOD TODAY 