Dec. 25, 2010SOLEMNITY OF THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
Midnight Mass:
Is 9,1-6 || Ti 2,11-14
Lk 2,1-14
Mass of the Day:
Is 52,7-10||Heb 1,1-6
Jn1,1-18
EMMANUEL: God with us!
(Part One)
(Part One)
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO!
VERBUM CARO FACTUM EST, ET HABITAVIT IN NOBIS.
Look around you. What do you see in the smiles of the children? In the bustle of family get-togethers? In the carols sung by the choir? What do you think is the reason behind this?
Do you feel the mystery, the magic, the thrill of this day? What is it that makes this day special from the others?
At last, after four long weeks of joyous preparation, we have arrived to the first Pasch of the liturgical year: the Pasch of the Birth of our Lord. Truly that this day calls for a celebration. From the joyful feast of the Noche Buena to the Filipino Tradition of visiting our godparents, to the mood of this most anticipated day, truly our way of welcoming the Christ Child is beyond compare.
Somehow, we feel the mystery which wraps around this day with our mortal senses. Though we only Christianized this day from the pagans, still the meaning that lies underneath the celebration leads us to the real faith, to what we believe: that Jesus Christ, being God omnipotent, did not cling to his dignity, emptied himself and became man.
And as he emptied himself, he willed that he may be born in a humble estate, there in the stable, witnessed by his parents Mary and Joseph, by the animals and by some shepherds. Unlike what the Jews expected, the King of Glory is born in such poor stature, that he may show us where he really dwells.
The Word came into flesh and dwelt among us... EMMANUEL! He embraced our poor stature, and glorified it through his life, death and resurrection. He never left us alone; he came to save you and me. And to do that, he willed that he may be born within the midst of the common tao, so that from there, he may show his great power over all the principalities of this world, the last one being sin and death.
====
During the last few days, I watched this commercial wherein a teenager, because he was dooped by his girl, grouped himself among the SMP: Samahang Malalamig ang Pasko.
We are somewhat asked by that commercial: Why do we celebrate Christmas? Is it because of the money, the gifts or mundane affairs, such as human love? No, guys. This should not be our reason why we need to celebrate this day. If so, sigurado akong hindi Pasko ang ipinagdiriwang natin. We only celebrate our enjoyment, and not the real reason of the celebration.
We should celebrate this day because God came to be with us. He is indeed with us!
EMMANUEL! God is with us! This is the main reason why we celebrate this day. That is the reason why we spend four weeks lighting four candles in joyful anticipation. This is the reason why we sacrifice for the last nine mornings. This is the reason of Christmas. EMMANUEL!
And never in our lives have we been SMP: Samahang Malalamig ang Pasko. Because Christ came in our midst and never left us empty-handed afterwards, we belong to SMP: Samahang Makabuluhan ang Pasko!
We should never forget this, guys. There should be no other reason of the celebration but Jesus Christ. He is God-with-us! He is Emmanuel! Let us welcome him with open hearts, and joyful spirits! Let us celebrate this with our family together. Remember, Jesus came in the midst of Mary and Joseph...
(To be continued...)
VERBUM CARO FACTUM EST, ET HABITAVIT IN NOBIS.
Look around you. What do you see in the smiles of the children? In the bustle of family get-togethers? In the carols sung by the choir? What do you think is the reason behind this?Do you feel the mystery, the magic, the thrill of this day? What is it that makes this day special from the others?
At last, after four long weeks of joyous preparation, we have arrived to the first Pasch of the liturgical year: the Pasch of the Birth of our Lord. Truly that this day calls for a celebration. From the joyful feast of the Noche Buena to the Filipino Tradition of visiting our godparents, to the mood of this most anticipated day, truly our way of welcoming the Christ Child is beyond compare.
Somehow, we feel the mystery which wraps around this day with our mortal senses. Though we only Christianized this day from the pagans, still the meaning that lies underneath the celebration leads us to the real faith, to what we believe: that Jesus Christ, being God omnipotent, did not cling to his dignity, emptied himself and became man.
And as he emptied himself, he willed that he may be born in a humble estate, there in the stable, witnessed by his parents Mary and Joseph, by the animals and by some shepherds. Unlike what the Jews expected, the King of Glory is born in such poor stature, that he may show us where he really dwells.
The Word came into flesh and dwelt among us... EMMANUEL! He embraced our poor stature, and glorified it through his life, death and resurrection. He never left us alone; he came to save you and me. And to do that, he willed that he may be born within the midst of the common tao, so that from there, he may show his great power over all the principalities of this world, the last one being sin and death.
====
During the last few days, I watched this commercial wherein a teenager, because he was dooped by his girl, grouped himself among the SMP: Samahang Malalamig ang Pasko.
We are somewhat asked by that commercial: Why do we celebrate Christmas? Is it because of the money, the gifts or mundane affairs, such as human love? No, guys. This should not be our reason why we need to celebrate this day. If so, sigurado akong hindi Pasko ang ipinagdiriwang natin. We only celebrate our enjoyment, and not the real reason of the celebration.
We should celebrate this day because God came to be with us. He is indeed with us!
EMMANUEL! God is with us! This is the main reason why we celebrate this day. That is the reason why we spend four weeks lighting four candles in joyful anticipation. This is the reason why we sacrifice for the last nine mornings. This is the reason of Christmas. EMMANUEL!
And never in our lives have we been SMP: Samahang Malalamig ang Pasko. Because Christ came in our midst and never left us empty-handed afterwards, we belong to SMP: Samahang Makabuluhan ang Pasko!
We should never forget this, guys. There should be no other reason of the celebration but Jesus Christ. He is God-with-us! He is Emmanuel! Let us welcome him with open hearts, and joyful spirits! Let us celebrate this with our family together. Remember, Jesus came in the midst of Mary and Joseph...
(To be continued...)
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYONE!
and
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!!!
and
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, JESUS!!!
BïTZëëlöG_122410 :)
I HAVE A BAD NEWS.
ReplyDeleteStarting January 01, 2011, we shall stop writing renditions of Ur Sunday Dose in this site. That means this two-part series will be the last rendition of Ur Sunday Dose.
I ALSO HAVE A GOOD NEWS.
nalungkot ka ba sa Bad News? Wait till you read the Good News.I will reveal the it tomorrow, so keep on crying. (:p)
MERRY CHRISTMAS, GUYS!