‘He’ is Still the Reason for the Season
Christmas wouldn’t have been without the Christ. There’s just no escaping it however much most of us try to deny it or “roam around the bush” on this topic. Sure this is the season to spend time with family, to take the long-needed vacation, for loving, sharing and forgiving; the classic “peace on earth and goodwill to mankind” . But isn’t all this the very essence of why Jesus was born on that manger in Bethlehem?
Of course, Filipinos believe in Santa Claus too (most of us have at least heard of him!). I for one have been hanging socks on Christmas Eve until junior high school and I actually believed that Santa’s itinerary includes the Philippines. My parents never directly admitted the “truth” behind Santa until my youngest brothers (the twins) were born: on their first Christmas, my parents reminded us (me and other brother Gary) to do something about “Santa’s socks”for the twins.
We intend to believe in Santa Claus until we wanted to, until we are to play Santa already to the next generation. With all the commercialism and expenditures attached to the celebration of Christmas the world over, the birth of Jesus Christ reminds us all that Christmas has the humblest of beginnings: one solid fact that can never ever fade until the end of time.
Manila Times.Net’s editorial today wrote:
The universal happiness generated by the birth of a savior-teacher extends even to people of different faiths. Christmas is the miracle that only a religion of love can offer to mankind as fresh and appealing as it presented itself to all mankind on the first Christmas. Again and again the whole world celebrates Christmas as the universal symbol for peace and good will, exactly as the angels announced two thousand years ago.
It turned out to most Filipinos that Christmas is the most anticipated fiesta of the year. We are one of the rare few who’s got the longest celebration of Christmas.
BUT, Filipinos can never deny the fact that our Christmas revolves around the celebration of the birth of Christ. It’s not just the Christmas lanterns, the carols and other adornments; it’s not just the food or if you’ve completed the Misa de Gallo.
All of these, centers on Jesus and that scene at nativity too along ago.
These days, not all of us may have enough cash to shop for Christmas presents, half of us may not even have food (or shelter!) at Noche Buena (the traditional Filipino Christmas feast after the midnight mass on December 24).
But all of us sure have faith in our hearts that Christmas brings new hope:
-hope that things are going to get better
-hope that each one of us is given a fresh start at life, in more ways than one.
Forgiveness, hope, peace and love that only God is capable of bestowing upon each one of his beloved children.
Maligayang Pasko sa buong mundo, mula sa Pilipinas!
(Merry Christmas to the world, from the Philippines!)
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