Finding meaning in Christmas

It was only this year that more than half of the Christmas messages I got reminded all of us of the reason behind the season (cool talaga ng phrase na toh haha). I felt happy that despite the intense consumerism that seems to possess people during this season (myself included), we did not forget why we were exchanging gifts or giving (for my part, receiving) aguinaldo.

I had a lot of fun yesterday because it was a different Christmas. We had Lucky Me pancit canton for Noche Buena because floods (patalong global warming + gravitational pull of the moon) kept us from going to our grandparents' place for the traditional Christmas dinner. It was fun to be spending a lot more time with the immediate family but sad at the same time because my 80+ years old grandparents were all alone (I'm not sure if they minded, but these events are the few ones when our entire family is present). I got a lot of aguinaldo and reached the target I set this year (yes, I combine the Christmas "bonus" and my savings the whole year). Everything else that happened was just great.

However, all that joy got me thinking: is this really how we remember the birth of our Lord? We count our money, open our presents, eat a lot of food. Is it really just a celebration? It felt to me lacking. It is good to celebrate just as the shepherds and the wise men did when they reached the manger where the Savior was born.

I guess it is easy enough to find the meaning of Christmas on the day itself. I feel that the challenge is to find its meaning on the days that come after because Jesus the baby did not come to the earth one night and left the next. He stayed with us, growing and getting ready for His ministry. I feel we should do the same. We've allowed Christ to enter our hearts yesterday once more. Our task now is to keep Him alive in us until we are called to Him at the end of our days. That I feel, is the true meaning of Christmas.

The True Spirit of Christmas

I got this from today's editorial at the Inquirer:

"The vigorous Catholicism of writers like G. K. Chesterton and our own Horacio de la Costa [yes, yung may statue pa hehe] taught many to see (and to welcome) the upside-down quality in the Christian faith: It is a religion of reversal, where the last shall be first and the poor inherit the earth. And where the object of pilgrimage becomes a pilgrim himself, a fellow transient. He is one of us; He is God-with-us."

It is my hope that as we celebrate tonight and tomorrow, we may never forget why we are celebrating at all - that 2 millenia ago, the object of our journey in life came to us that He may be one of us, God-with-us, that He might deliver His ultimate gift: our salvation.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Something to remember 16

"because of the tender mercy of our God by which the daybreak from on high will visit us to shine on those who sit in darkness and death's shadow, to guide our feet into the path of peace."
- Luke 1:78-79

This is a very wonderful prophesy by Zechariah, who, once upon a time, was made mute when he refused to believe in the power of God. It comes from a man who saw God's hand working in his life first hand. And now, by the prompting of the Holy Spirit, he proclaims God's hand at work for all mankind.

The generosity of God cannot be undone and truly He gives the best gifts we could ever receive. Tomorrow, we are reminded of the most wonderful gift He gave mankind past, present and future - the daybreak that will shine on those who sit in darkness: Jesus Christ.

Fighting with Hope

Keeping up with my yearly tradition, I am currently having another Lord of the Rings marathon. To enrich the experience, I decided to use the extended versions (a total of 12 hours for the three movies) as material for this year's marathon hehe.

The Lord of the Rings is such an appealing literary work because like most classics, its message remains relevant today. I think the whole point of all the battles, quests and victories that span 12 hours of the movies and three novels is summarized in this short anecdote delivered by Sam near the end of the second movie:

Sam: "It's like in the great stories Mr. Frodo; the ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were and sometimes you didn't want to know the end because how can the end be happy, how can the world go back to the way it was, when so much bad had happened. But in the end, it's only a passing thing, this shadow, even darkness must pass; a new day will come and when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you, that meant something even if you were too small to understand why. I think Mr. Frodo I do understand. I know now folk in those stories had lots of chances to turn back only they didn't. They kept going because they were holding on to something..."

Frodo:
"What are we holding on to Sam?"

Sam: "That there is some good in this world, Mr. Frodo, and it's worth fighting for..."

Everyone in the fellowship had their own roles to play but I think the most beautiful one is that of Sam. Even if he perhaps killed the least number of orcs, his role was vital to the quest. He kept hope alive in the moments when darkness seemed to be the only thing they were getting themselves into.

And today, that message of hope remains. Though our battles are not against orcs or balrogs or the monsters of old, we are at war with the Saurons within us, keeping us from living the life we ought to live - a life of love, holiness and righteousness. We are at war with the Mordor of this world, covering society in the darkness of injustice and oppression. These are the wars we must fight even in the face of insurmountable obstacles. And in the end, we know the darkness will pass because we are holding on to the Source of Light and Goodness Himself.

Hope is one of the best gifts God gives us especially this Christmas season because it lends us the strength to keep on fighting for God.

Something to remember 15

3 days before Christmas - that pivotal moment in history that revealed to us that we have a God that has not forsaken us to sin and that He is a God of promises that are fulfilled.

We are called to be witnesses to His promise - for the people of Israel before, the first coming of the Emmanuel; for us today, the second coming of the Messiah.

What does it mean to be a witness to God's promises?
We must strive to follow the example of John the Baptist, the greatest of those born of women, and Mary, pure from the moment of conception.

Like John, let us acknowledge and rejoice in the presence of our God wherever we may be (for John, even in the womb of his mother).
Like Mary, let us say yes to God in every possible way (for Mary, her sweet yes that turned her from virgin daugther to virgin mother of God).
Like John, let us prepare the way for His coming by taking part in building His kingdom on earth (for John, it was by baptizing the people and living a holy life).
Like Mary, let us recognize God's hand in our lives and reflect on the gradual fulfillment of His promises in our hearts.
Like Mary and John, let us always remain hopeful of the fulfillment of God's promises in our lives.
Like Mary and John, let us be willing to go the distance to be faithful to God's promises even if it means suffering (for Mary, the suffering of a mother seeing her own Son hurt and killed) and death (for John, by beheading).

There is a wonderful song about a man who was witness to the promises of God and was filled with joy and final fulfillment upon seeing it before his eyes. It was Simeon, when Jesus was presented in the temple and the title of the song is Simeon's Canticle (music by Manoling Francisco, S.J.) based on Luke 2:29-32. It's part of the Hangad Christmas album I bought yesterday. I long for the day that his words may be mine as well:

Lord, let your servant go in peace
For Your Word has been fulfilled

My own eyes have seen Your salvation
Which You have prepared for all men

Lord, let your servant go in peace

Truly the best Christmas carols are the ones that proclaim the true spirit of Christmas - that of love overflowing from the coming of the source of love Himself into the world.

Tuned In

My first youth camp as a facilitator was more than I had wanted it to be.

Before the camp, I had only wanted a break from the monotony of my current life. I wanted to experience again the high of thinking of nothing else but serving God because our routines often distract us from that vision.

True to the name of the camp, God allowed me to tune in to Him once more. The first semester was a time of confusion for me. I felt there was something missing in my relationship with God and I was confused and frustrated and insecure. But during the camp, He reminded me that I should not bother myself too much with the details of life because I need only depend on Him completely and everything will turn out His way - the best way. The experience of serving Him just showed me His overwhelming and overflowing love.

After the camp, He kept me tuned in. He opened my consciousness to His surprises and now I see Him working in my life more clearly than ever before.

My birthday this year was just extra special because of His surprises. My second semester may still be filled with frustration but now I am better equipped to handle them.

God always has a way of surprising us. We need only tune in to Him and every moment of our lives will be a surprise from Him.

Something to remember 14

"but he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.' I will rather boast most gladly of my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell with me."
- 2 Corinthians 12:9

Rejoice in our weaknesses and imperfections because it is through these that we can easily see how God works in our lives. We should be grateful when we are at the highest points of our lives but we must be even grateful in the lowest points, in our frustrations and unfulfilled desires because it is in these moments that we depend on God more completely. Everything has a reason and the comforts of our lives are easy enough to rationalize. We need to ask for the grace to see God even in our weaknesses, insecurities and frustrations.

Something to remember 13

Commitment is difficult and seemingly impossible in this age.

Is it possible to commit yourself to something without knowing the entirety of what you need to do and what you will face in doing it?

Is it possible to commit your entire life to the Lord and His mission for you?

Yes. Mary, the Mother of God, did just that with this single statement:

"Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."
- Luke 1:38

How?

Not by her own power, but only through the grace of God.

"for nothing will be impossible with God." - Luke 1:37

We need only say yes, and God will do the rest.