Reason for the season

It’s already Christmas and yet the topic currently in the news is still the regular poll surveys on the presidential race. Even if the next presidential election is still five months away, our pollsters are already in the midst of conducting polls regarding supposed voter preferences among the possible candidates for president. Of course based on past poll surveys it would appear that they invariably coincide with the actual outcome of the elections. Nevertheless, I still believe that these polls are not reflective of the peoples’ will and bring more harm than good to our electoral process. Firstly, it is really quite unconvincing that asking an alleged cross section of our voting population numbering only 1,200 could reflect the preference of the entire 55 million voting population Secondly, the public is not properly informed of the type of questions asked. So it is not farfetched that they are leading the respondents to some desired answers. And thirdly, with our electorate not so educated yet, they tend to choose candidates based on win-ability rather than their capability. And so those leading in the alleged surveys, whether qualified and honest or not, can possibly romp into victory. This is the reason why, up to now, we have not seemingly chosen the right person to be our president. 

So, during this Christmas season let us pray harder for our country and our people. And  for this purpose, let us just focus our attention to the long awaited Christmas which we have been preparing for so long now.

Too often, has it been said that Christmas is for children. And this is rightly so. For many of us however, the word “children” refers only to our own children and the children of our close relatives and friends. During Christmas time, we practically stumble all over and literally drain our pockets or exhaust our hard earned bonus just to buy them something to light up their faces on Christmas day. It really brings a tremendous feeling of joy to see them happy on Christmas day. But does the glow in our children’s faces really make our Christmas celebration complete?

Plodding through heavy traffic during the past few days when the frenetic Christmas shopping was at its height, one cannot help but notice the unusually increasing number of waifs roaming the streets. Many of them, of course, have been part of the scenery even before Christmas, begging for alms with toddlers in tow or infants in their arms. Rain or shine, they peer through car windows in the hope of tugging the hearts of some kind motorists. And during this time, more of them can be seen in our streets taking advantage of the season and greeting us a “Merry Christmas.”

Of course, these children don’t deserve to be in such dangerous and unhealthy places. They deserve normal lives like what our children are enjoying. Fending for themselves in those streets without care of parents or guardians are circumstances that threaten or endanger not only their normal development but their very survival. There is already a law (RA 7610) which requires the State to protect these children from such conditions. And their parents themselves can be prosecuted for child abuse. Sad to say however, the law is obviously being ignored or taken for granted.

The multiplication of street children during Christmas time is one tangible indication that the law providing for special protection against child abuse and exploitation is ineffective and that there is a growing neglect and abuse of children who are unable to take care of themselves.  And precisely because this occurs coincidentally during Christmas time, it seems quite clear that the Christ Child Himself is sending us a message. He is telling us that every street children is His own image lying helplessly in the manger of a lowly stable in Bethlehem; that as we neglect and abuse these children, we are actually neglecting the Christ Child; that it is not enough for us to remember those street children only during Christmas by sharing our blessings with them but forgetting them the rest of the year; that our true mission, especially our government should be to  get them off the streets once and for all, and protect them with special care so that next Christmas they will have a more normal life like our children.

Indeed there is a more significant angle about Christmas and the children. We all know the children’s traits and attitudes. They are completely devoid of any feeling of self sufficiency. They are always dependent for their needs on somebody else, primarily on their parents or guardians. And in their utter helplessness, they entrust themselves completely to the care of their parents. Children also look up to others with the purest intentions. They do not entertain any negative thoughts about others or that others meant them harm.  Children are always ready and disposed to learn, to be taught. They live fully for the present and are not nervously looking to the future like some adults; neither are they concerned with what others think of them.  They dare to ask for anything because to them, nothing is impossible.

Simplicity, humility, innocence, docility and total faith, are therefore their main traits. These are traits that create ample room for the Child Jesus to enter and stay in our hearts.  To be a child at heart, even if we are adults is what we need so that Jesus can come to us this Christmas. Christmas is indeed for children, it is…  

A reason to be grateful

For the blessings we receive

A reason to have faith and trust

in our gracious Lord above

Christmas is the reason

to be joyful, to believe,

To be filled with Hope and Love.”

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND MAY GOD BLESS US ALL

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