Merry Christmas

Let us remember that in the middle of all the lights and glamor of the Holidays, the commercialism and the superficial decorations that add some aesthetics to the celebrations, the piles of gifts we are to receive and have already given away, it is Christ which is the very reason why we are joyfully celebrating tonight and tomorrow. Christmas is Christ's Day, a commemoration of his birth, when "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us". The Love story between God and Mankind began when God Himself took the form of Man in the Person of Jesus Christ. Christmas is the day when we recall such outpouring of self. Tonight, let us remind ourselves of the very source of everything that we enjoy.

There have been many attempts to erase the figure of Christ from the celebration of Christmas. Let us make an effort to bring back Christ to Christmas. While there is nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas with carols, lights, games, food and fun, it is not perfect if the celebration is not united with deep thoughts about Jesus, God's Love for Men in the flesh.

It is only quite ironic that it is during this time of the year that we give tribute to the birth of the King of Peace, and yet all around us is the lack of peace, of genuine peace. We are troubled about the financial crisis crippling the global economy. We are anxious about the future, about our security and safety. We are bothered by so many mundane concerns which are in themselves valid. Perhaps, it is no wonder why for so many of us, the celebration of Christmas is distorted simply because the essence is not perceptible.

But then again, perhaps it is our distraction from the true essence of Christmas that has led us to where we are today. Through the years, we have cut ourselves from the true Vine of Life, disconnected our lives from Him. Instead, we were hooked up with passing beauty, with technology, with our politics, with our neo-culture. The world has changed since that first Christmas Day.

The invitation therefore to go back to Christ is ever more relevant than it was many thousand years ago. Magi travelled from the east over many miles seeking for this Child King. Shepherds a few miles from the manger also came to find the newborn King. Near or far, the King of Kings wished everyone to come to Him. In order not to intimidate his "subjects", the King dressed himself in swaddling clothes, asleep in the arms of his Virgin Mother. Later, he would call his subjects "Friends".

My wish this Christmas is to be granted the grace to see Christ in others ever more clearly, especially in the coming year. I wish to see Christ in my family, in my children, in my friends, in my co-workers, in my patients, in strangers and people I hardly even know. But perhaps most of all, I wish to let others see Christ in me.

I pray the same for everyone in the world.

Merry Christmas!