Faith, hope and love this Christmas

Christmas is barely a week from now.

Among those who are waking up at dawn for the Misa de Gallo are those who have been affected by the quakes and typhoons in the Visayas. Still in grief and in pain, many of the survivors are moving on slowly in faith, in complete trust. We believe with them, that like the promise of the first Christmas, God, with His immeasurable love, will come through His Son to assure them all again about their salvation and redemption.

Observers have been amazed by what they saw and described as the resilience of our people. In their hearts, it is faith in God that has allowed our disaster survivors to smile, to play, to rebuild their homes and lives.

Even if the churches they used to worship in have been destroyed by the strong earthquake and typhoon, even if the pain and the loss are still in their hearts, they braved and are braving the cold morning to proceed with their traditional annual Misa de Gallo. Amidst so much tears and cries for help, their strong faith in God remains in their hearts. Resiliency is the reflection of their faith and hope that today and tomorrow will be better because God will remain with them always and especially this Christmas season.

If you are among those blessed to be present among our disaster survivors, will you please share our tight hugs with them? Please extend our prayers and love as well. Please let them know how much we care for them even if we are far from them now. We promise to continue to join them in their brave efforts to move on. Please also tell them how blessed and inspired we all are to see their silent yet resolute struggle to go beyond their grief, their loss, and their pain. Please hug them tightly one more time for us so they will be assured that they are all remembered and loved, especially but not only for this Christmas season but beyond. Thank you.

And so let us all move on in faith, hope and love. Let us also remember all the blessings the Lord has shared with us this year, starting with His best gift to us all-His Son Jesus Christ.

Among God's best gifts to us all is our dearest Pope Francis. What joy to see how he has restored love, forgiveness, and mercy in the church, how he continues to share God's love with all those sent his way. He hugs everyone, from children, to the disfigured and the sick. He shuns the luxury lavished on previous popes. Rather than be served, our present Pope Francis continues to follow the ways of Christ who came to serve God and His people!

And our Pope proceeds in his simple ways to remind us how joyful it is to love all unconditionally! Like the beloved Pope John Paul II, Pope Francis continues to reflect the face and love of our heavenly God, our Father.

Most specially during this season of love, like our brave survivors, like our Pope Francis, let us share and express our unconditional love and tight embraces and real concern especially for those who are lonely, in pain, in grief and in need.

While there are only several days now before Christmas, we have all the days of our lives to share the joy, the faith, the hope and love that God and His Son Jesus Christ shared and continue to share with all!

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