At this time of the year, when people are going about frantically shopping for gifts and putting up the Christmas decoorations, amidst all this hustle and bustle, I can't stop to think what is the Christmas message for me this year. With the early rising, preparing the church for "Simbang Gabi," the lack of sleep, I am too exhausted to do much reflection. Nonetheless, it is important for all Christians to take time to discover the meaning of Christmas anew.
As I observe what is happening around me, I also reflect what is happening with me. I struggle with anger, indignation, and bitterness. Anger and indignation at what has happened, the humilation, and a growing sense of bitterness. Gone are the days of a happy and joyful youth. Life seems to rob you of these. Or rather, the vicissitudes of life. Sometimes, we suffer because of the malice of others, by there stupidity and incompetence, and our having to put up with them. And at others times, we suffer because of our stupidity and pride. We percieve, wether real or imagined, that the others want to "do us in" to see us fall and take delight in our failure. Such perceptions leave one either melancholic or angry. Or sometimes both. We ask, "Why is the world so evil? Why is there so much hatred and bitterness?"
But it is into such a world that Christ was born. Our God was not born in a place or even in an inn, but in a stable for animals. Why? Because we did'nt want him to be anywhere else but the meanest of places. We don't want to be bothered. We are happy where we are with our own group of friends, and we don't want any "outsider" in our midst. We just want to be left alone.
Today, this same Jesus wants to be born in the human heart. In a human heart filled with anger, hurt and bitterness. It is those who are sick that needs a doctor. And Christ came to save us, to heal our wounds and mend our brokenness. He wants to lift us up from the misery of our sinfulness, and to clothe us with the finest robe and to have a feast in our honor, like the prodigal father. This is the God that we have; the God of mercy and compassion. Despite our wickedness and pride and our constant pushing him away, our God looks tenderly on us with his arms wide open, ever ready to embrace us.
