Please Don't Postpone Your Christmas




A lot of people have decided to postpone their long planned Christmas parties and in lieu thereof, donated their entire budget to augment the rehabilitation fund/relief of those victimized by the shocking flashflood that washed out Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City. Apart from the shock is the seemingly lost of appetite to celebrate the season. "How could you have Christmas party when your countrymen down south are grieving for their lost?", they rhetorically asked. The President got lambasted in the process for going out of his way to attend such a party at the height of the tragedy (for how one could refuse if you have a Valerie Concepcion as guest performer?)

Often times, we fall into the assumption that Christmas is Christmas party, or garish decorations, lavish food and exotic gifts. Christmas has to be merry and bright otherwise it is not Christmas. Then when we find ourselves in such unfavorable situation, we qualify ours as "bleak Christmas"," mamaeamaea nga Paskwa", "sad Christmas". We failed to apprehend the meaning of the event in its facticity. We could not blame ourselves for we are bombarded daily in our tubes and other mass media by the propaganda of commercialism. The meaning is lost. Christmas is something that appeal to the senses and the perceptions of men.

But more than 2000 years ago, in an obscure town, a child was born, a son was given birth by a virgin. He was said to be the one long promised to proclaim good news to the poor, freedom for the prisoners, to set the oppressed free, sights to the blind and to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor (cf. Lk.4:18ff; Is. 58:6). He is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace (cf. Is. 9:6). He is Immanuel--which means, "God is with us." (cf. Mat. 1:23) 

More than 2000 years ago, in that obscure town, this child was born poor and in exile, homeless and a stranger. Each Christmas is his birthday and he is knocking on each door seeking for anybody to give him a room. Will you be kind enough not to forego such an observance? Will you be considerate enough to give up your comfort to let him in into your house this Christmas?

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