Merry Christmas 2017! Let us keep in mind that while many of us are all thrilled to be giving and receiving presents, sharing sumptuous meals, doing fun stuffs and relishing material things, all these mean nothing if we do not have love (1 Corinthians 13:1-3) —
love for God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Catholic Church, the Saints, and especially our Mama Mary,
love for our family,
love for others.
1. Love is the reason of the Christmas season.
This line is a popular expression during Christmas reminding us that Christmas is a celebration of Love. What are yuletide pleasures for when at the end of the day, no one cares for us and we care for no one? We may go with our peers at parties, make all sorts of fun and enjoy, but there is no true joy at all in coming home to a house where family members rarely share laughter together or talk with each other. What reason do we live for if not to give love and experience love?
2. Love gives value to our sacrifices.
When a person does things out of selfish love, like trying awfully hard to please people to get something for himself or herself and feed on his or her insecurities, such actions have very little value, if at all. Only those that we do out of selfless love for our families, loved ones, and brothers and sisters in Christ, especially to the least of them, are worthy offerings that please God, such as the sacrifices we make on Christmas. Many find value in sacrificing finances, time or effort this Christmas with the sincere desire of giving simple joys or material goods to their families, friends, neighbors, and inaanak (godchildren).
3. Love reveres God.
We might sing all the Christmas carols or be present at Mass, but is that all we can do to show God that we love Him? For starter, we should deepen our relationship with God — in knowing Him, in finding Him in ourselves, in listening to His voice in our hearts through Scripture, daily Mass Readings, the Divine Office and Catholic reflections, and in seeing His presence in all things and people. Realizing that everything comes from the wonder of His Holy Will enables us to worship God with love.
4. Love cares for others.
Many of us will surely serve the yummiest food these holidays. But as we savor our meals, we must never forget that other people in the world are hungry, lonely, and afflicted with many sufferings. Always praying for them is the simplest way to show that we care for them. Since faith brings about love, and drives action, we can try to give alms to the needy according to our generosity and means. Remember also that genuine Love is the thirst of all people, no matter who they are and what their status is in life, rich or poor. That is why we must love others by respecting their dignity, leading them to God, caring for their souls, and not becoming instruments for their sins and downfall.
5. Love endures all things.
The Nativity Story is only complete with Jesus, Mary and Joseph. How did our Blessed Mother endure and survive the journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem, when she was about to give birth without a place to stay in? It’s all because of love. Mama Mary loved the Holy Child Jesus and her Most Chaste Spouse Saint Joseph. From being a humble carpenter, Saint Joseph became the most loving and responsible husband and father, because he loved his wife Mary. Most of all, the Holy Baby Jesus, their Son and their God, is Love Himself. He is the Divine Love Who accompanied Mary and Joseph in their life journey to Heaven. In the same way in our lives today, we must know that we can only endure our sufferings on earth through the love we give to and receive from Jesus, through His Mother Mary as our number one intercessor to God.
6. Love of God is the center of it all.
For God so loved the world, that He gave His Only Son. God gave us the grace of life because He wants us to be saved, and live with Him for eternity in His Kingdom. The virtues and spiritual fruits that we have learned in the Reflections for the four weeks of Advent to Christmas, there is one that thing binds them all — Love. As Saint Paul the Apostle, who is my immediate family’s Patron Saint, zealously asserts, “The greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:13). Therefore, Hope, Faith, Joy, and Peace can only last in our lives and souls if we keep within our hearts true love of God.
On a personal note, I’m so grateful to God, Mama Mary, Saint Joseph, and my other intercessor Saints for giving me this Christmas much love in my life. This year, in particular, I have learned a lot about love. While I also faced many difficulties and trials, by the end of this year, 2017, God has blessed me with much grace, which has made everything worth it. I was able to be open with this immense grace- to receive this grace, and to share this grace to others, because of the love of my loving family. And though I have yet to start my own family, as I’m a single and an unmarried woman, I am very much in love and loved back, that is, in love with God, and feeling God’s love for me, which is the greatest gift one could ask for this Christmas.
***
Merry Christmas to you, your families and your loved ones;
God bless you!
Saint Joseph, pray for us!
Mama Mary, pray for us!
Amen.
She graduated cum laude from the University of Santo Tomas, the country's Pontifical and Catholic university, with an AB in Legal Management and minor units in Theology.
As an unmarried woman, prayer holds a central place in her daily life, with a focus on the Rosary and the Divine Office. Embodying her faith, she emphasizes the growth of her inner spiritual life, guided by the wisdom of Carmelite spirituality.
God manifested to her in a unique and radical manner, which made her know Who He truly is and led her to total surrender of her life to Him.
She has studied the Bible with her family, developing a particular fondness for the Old Testament.
Her adorable and intelligent toy poodle is a delightful companion in her daily life, bringing warmth and joy to her home.
Her hobbies include reading about everything, learning Japanese and German, listening to music and playing the flute.
In her leisure time, she enjoys gaming on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch OLED, Nintendo 3DS, iOS and OS, and collecting things related to PlayStation and Nintendo.
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