FOOD laden table. Parlor games. Season’s music. Chats. Family, friends and kins sharing a beautiful occasion every year, whether you like it or not it will come. Christmas. The whole world including non-Christian nations celebrated Christmas, Saturday. And the mood will linger even after the celebration of the coming year 2022.
This is what most people do during the holidays. Time of shopping, caroling, fine dining, gift giving and family reunion. Nothing wrong about that. On the other hand, to some people it is time to reflect and do some soul searching. Somehow, because it is in the midst of a joyous setting, a deep reflection, Christmas might lose its meaning. To many people reflections , penance and contemplations are reserved for the Holy Week. But if you took the nine days of simbang gabi it could have been a way also for contemplation. The silence in the heart ( and the song Silent Night in the background) is a way of understanding who we really are, and what life is all about. In that way it will strengthen our faith in our Creator, which started when the child Jesus was born in a manger.
The article that you are reading may not be appropriate for the holiday season, nonetheless it was the piece I decided to share. As it said in the Holy Bible, ‘From dust you came, to dust you return'. It is said when you are born, there is only direction, and that is Heaven, if you are lucky. From womb to tomb. But never fear death, said the Holy Book . The greatest gift God has given to mankind is death', said a passage in the bible. Imagine the people who are now in advanced age, bed ridden, immobile and only under assisted living, petitioning in silence God to give them the forever rest.
I know a lot of people who in their heydays were the game changers and shakers in their communities. Achieving a high degree of influence and unlimited funds for expenses to satisfy their whims and follies. Now in the twilight of their years, Christmas doesn’t matter anymore. Many people made a lot of money from several businesses, but spent them for hospital bills. At some point many of these either they are on air conditioned or charity wards of medical centers they will ask God to end their misery and plead death. I have seen many of these situations.
There are so many other true to life situations wherein people begged God for mercy to end their sufferings.
'Father why thou hast forsaken me'. Even our Lord Jesus Christ uttered this word towards heaven when his human body can no longer endure the pain. What more for ordinary mortals.During this Christmas season I hope each one of us will try to contemplate our own life existence. That it may focus on the fragility of human life, that one day you will breathe your last, and that at the end you can make a good accounting of what you have done for others.
Shakespeare once wrote, 'all the evil in men will be interred with their bones'. I beg to disagree on the thoughts of the greatest writer of all time. Possibly he didn't realize when he was writing that particular line that there is the last judgment that will come. A blindfolded lady symbolizes human justice, meaning she cares not if you are rich or poor, good looking or ugly, educated or unlettered, but her ears can still hear and be tempted by a whispered promise. Not in the Divine Justice, justicia divina. It will be right minus wrong since in my belief God is all just. If you have done thousands of good deeds and committed few infractions and felt really sorry for your sins, God may in the last judgement reserve a seat for you in heaven. Today's life is only for today. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.