By faith, not sight

In the midst of the countdown before this year’s Christmas, what do you see?

The glitter of lights, colorful parols, decors, and sights…

The large crowds at early dawn masses, yes. And the expectant vendors eager to sell their items…

At the airport, returning family and relatives here for the holidays, happy reunions from now till January’s Sinulog?

There are also the fires reported, mostly throughout homes built of light materials. Injuries caused by fireworks improperly handled, including by young playful kids…

Until this morning, there are the scenes of communities affected by the recent Typhoon Kabayan.

More homeless, hungry, poor added to the already huge number of the needy…

What about those in war-torn areas? How many among them can see beyond the bombs, the bloody, the dead, the fear in their midst?

Before our eyes, we see the blend of the sad and the happy, the poor and the rich, the healthy and the sick, the desperate and the hopeful…

In our seas are clear signs of aggression and biased narratives, alignment of forces, of nations, then what next?

Will our grandmother’s words come to pass? She said, “when you see the star very close to the moon, the world will be at war.”

Was she, who lived to be 104 (May 25, 1898-July 14, 2000), referring to a war like the two world wars she experienced during her younger years?

Or our ongoing war with global warming?

At the recently concluded28th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP28)of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), delegates from nearly 200 countries were divided, with some lauding the COP 28 phase-down agreement (that called for a“just, orderly, and equitable” transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems“to achieve net zero by 2050”) and other nations, refusing to sign the pact (that failed to call for “a "phase-out" of fossil fuels, which scientists say are by far the biggest source of the greenhouse gas emissions driving global warming.)”

Cedric Schuster of Samoa, the chair of the Alliance of Small State Islands composed of 39 Pacific Island Nations refused to sign what he referred to as “our death certificate.”

Since their “communitiesin the small island states will not survive if the 1.5° C goal is not achieved,” small island states are continuing their fight to keep the 1.5° C goal alive with the signing of the ‘Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty.’

Will the billions of poor/hungry and vulnerable, survive further rise in global temperature? Will the world survive global warming, other wars?

Amidst darkness and uncertainty, shall we proceed by sight or shall we go by faith?

Mayor Al Arquillano, Cebu’s lone representative to the COP28, believes that like their effective purok system in San Francisco, Camotes Island, local governments play pivotal roles in fighting climate crisis.

Like the Advent wreath, shall we light the candle of hope, peace, joy and love?

“She was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of greeting this might be- Hail, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

She contemplated even more after hearing that she, a virgin, will bear a son, the Son of God!

Yet she chose to believe, she chose to go on faith, not by sight.

She chose not to be afraid and, instead, she chose to yield in complete faith/love/and obedience to God.

For she believed that “nothing will be impossible for God.”

And so,Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.”

Gratefully, we have Christ in Christmas.

We have our Messiah, our Savior, our Emmanuel -“God with us”- who loves us best now and always, through all seasons!