CHRISTmas 2016!

The WORD today (see http://usccb.org/bible/readings/122516-midnight.cfm) reminds me how beautiful and meaningful Christmas is!

They say that Christmas is the longest season here in the Philippines. As early as September, or when the –BER months enter, there are already Christmas decors on display, and some establishments already play Christmas songs - especially malls. And after weeks of preparing and waiting for Jesus, we now commemorate his coming. In the first reading, Isaiah says: For a child is born to us, a son is given us(Isaiah 9:6). Eto na yun. God’s immense love for us made concrete by his sending of his one and only Son to save us from our sins. He even allowed his Son to be born in a manger, with the animals, because he loves us.

There are a lot of Christmas songs. New and the old classics. One of the classics is O Holy Night. I haven’t given much attention to this song before. For me, it was just one of those normal Christmas songs that have been there for ages. However, taking a closer look at the lyrics, this actually encapsulates Christmas:

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.

‘Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

Deep. 

Until he appeared and the soul felt its worth. Until Jesus appeared. Before he entered the world, we were living in sin. We were living far away from God. No sense. No purpose. Jesus brought us salvation. Jesus brought us peace. Jesus bridged our way to God. He stood in the gap from us, sinners, to God the Father Almighty. He made us children of God. 

We all have different feeling towards this day. Others may have been blessed by attending the “Misa De Gallo” or “Simbang Gabi” every 4AM for 9 consecutive days. Others may have been blessed by helping out others, because it gave them an opportunity to serve, help out, and be Christ to others. Others may have been blessed by reading His word, praying, reflecting and taking the sacraments. Those are all great feelings. But how about others? What about those who were so stressed preparing gifts, cooking food, arranging get-togethers, that they did not realize it’s already Christmas? How about those who got so engrossed with the year-end responsibilities at work and requirements for a January deadline that they forgot about Christmas? How about those who did their best, prepared spiritually for this, yet do not seem to feel an effect on their lives?

Good news! It’s never too late! Preparing does not end at Christmas Day. More important than preparing for Christmas, it should continue even after Christmas.

Jesus was born in a stable, probably a dirty one, together with animals. This shows external appearance is not so important to him. What’s important is the owners welcomed them. Are we welcoming him as well? IF you haven’t been preparing, ok lang, never too late. If kulang pa yung preparation, ok lang, never too late. If parang walang epekto, ok lang, never too late, dasal pa. Let us hang on to his promise in Jeremiah:  If you seek me you’ll find me, if you seek me with all of your heart (Jeremiah 29:13).

What is important to God is we welcome him, we allow Him to stay in us, no matter how unprepared, no matter how dirty, no matter how unworthy our heart is for Him. IF we allow him to stay, if we welcome him, if we allow him to do whatever he wants, he will use us mightily, and we would glorify God by it, and the more we continue doing these, the more our soul will feel its worth.

May we continue to prepare spiritually for Christ, and may the spirit of Christmas – which is God’s love made alive and concrete, continue to remain in us and be alive through us.

Father God,

Thank you for this day. Thank you for another day to live. Thank you for Christmas. Thank you for coming into this world as a little child born in a stable in a little town of Bethlehem. Father, thank you for not being intimidating. Thank you for humbling yourself so we could relate to you. Thank you for your great love for us. Lord, sorry for not doing my best to prepare for Christmas. Sorry for being busy and distracted. Lord, my heart is not so clean. Madumi sya, madami pa kailangang ayusin at linisin. I feel I have not prepared as much, that I am unworthy. But Lord, however unworthy I am, I ask, I beg you to come into my life, into my heart. Make the most out of it. Fill it with your love, that I may always realize how special I am to you. I ask that you grant me the grace to see myself the way you see me – beautiful, worthy of your love, capable of doing good. I ask that you continuously use me to do your work, and this CHRISTmas and always, may I always remember who this is for, who should come first, who my attention and focus should be. Amidst all the technological advancements and worldly distractions, may I never lose my focus on you, on the real essence of Christmas. Help me and use me to make you more alive and more real to others. Amen.

Let’s not forget the REASON for the SEASON and keep CHRIST in CHRISTmas!

Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas!

In Christ,

-g-

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December 25, 2016 - The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) - Mass during the Night
The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
Mass during the Night
Lectionary: 14

Reading 1 Is 9:1-6

The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom
a light has shone.
You have brought them abundant joy
and great rejoicing,
as they rejoice before you as at the harvest,
as people make merry when dividing spoils.
For the yoke that burdened them,
the pole on their shoulder,
and the rod of their taskmaster
you have smashed, as on the day of Midian.
For every boot that tramped in battle,
every cloak rolled in blood,
will be burned as fuel for flames.
For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rests.
They name him Wonder-Counselor, God-Hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace.
His dominion is vast
and forever peaceful,
from David’s throne, and over his kingdom,
which he confirms and sustains
by judgment and justice,
both now and forever.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this!

Responsorial Psalm Ps 96: 1-2, 2-3, 11-12, 13

R. (Lk 2:11) Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice;
let the sea and what fills it resound;
let the plains be joyful and all that is in them!
Then shall all the trees of the forest exult.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.
They shall exult before the LORD, for he comes;
for he comes to rule the earth.
He shall rule the world with justice
and the peoples with his constancy.
R. Today is born our Savior, Christ the Lord.

Reading 2 Ti 2:11-14

Beloved:
The grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires
and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
as we await the blessed hope,
the appearance of the glory of our great God
and savior Jesus Christ,
who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessness
and to cleanse for himself a people as his own,
eager to do what is good.

Alleluia Lk 2:10-11

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I proclaim to you good news of great joy:
today a Savior is born for us,
Christ the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 2:1-14

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus
that the whole world should be enrolled.
This was the first enrollment,
when Quirinius was governor of Syria.
So all went to be enrolled, each to his own town.
And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth
to Judea, to the city of David that is called Bethlehem,
because he was of the house and family of David,
to be enrolled with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.
While they were there,
the time came for her to have her child,
and she gave birth to her firstborn son.
She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.

Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields
and keeping the night watch over their flock.
The angel of the Lord appeared to them
and the glory of the Lord shone around them,
and they were struck with great fear.
The angel said to them,
“Do not be afraid;
for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people.
For today in the city of David
a savior has been born for you who is Christ and Lord.
And this will be a sign for you:
you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes
and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel,
praising God and saying:
“Glory to God in the highest
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”