Saturday, December 20, 2008 Hechanova: A blessed and hope-filled Christmas By Fr. Jessie Hechanova Light That Transforms
ONCE again we celebrate with joy as we remember the birth of the Lord Jesus. Amidst the economic, political as well as moral turmoil in the world today, celebrating the birthday of the Savior will be quite a challenge to some.
In a seemingly somber and depressing social environment, remembering the birth of the Christ Child and all the joyful tradition that goes with it seems to trigger a sense of hopelessness and malaise to many.
Yet, the coming of the Son of God into our imperfect world should be reason for us to hope and celebrate in peace and joy because of hope. Hope is the conviction that somehow, someday, all things will turn out well, that all things will be all right, and that God's plan will be fulfilled for men and for all of creation.
To hope is to believe in the Father who is finally the Lord of the past, present and future and that in His own good time, the saving work which was initiated when He sent His son Jesus to us one Christmas day will be fulfilled. Then on that certain bright future, every tear will be wiped away, and pain or suffering will be no more. Hope is the belief that the present points to this future, that nothing in fact happens in vain, and that the future is being built up by the present events.
It is the assurance that evil will never be victorious, and that evil's seemingly present victory is but a prelude to God's victory. It is the firm belief that the crooked will be straightened, that pain and suffering will bear fruits of joy and healing.
This conviction, this hope should therefore fill us with a peaceful joy that should inspire us to act in behalf of the good, of justice and of generosity. It should fill us with joyful persistence as we go on with whatever good works we are doing, in whatever occupation God's providence has destined us to do.
Hope should also move us to steadily accomplish the destiny and the mission God has given us when He decided that we be born.
Hope should fill us with that spirit of ineffable joy born out of our conviction that ultimately God is the Lord of history, both our personal history and that of our world. That with God's coming into the world in His Son, the world has been permeated with His presence which no one and nothing could erase.
The celebration of Christmas, therefore, calls us to be hopeful people, people who slowly transform one another and our communities in whatever way we could.
Christmas is truly the season of hope, when once again the image of the little child born in a manger will make us reflect and hope for the wonderful future that this child came to initiate and will bring to fulfillment through us and His church with the grace of the Father.
A blessed and hope-filled Christmas to one and all.
