Soon it will be Christ’s birthday!

Tomorrow, on the fourth Sunday of Advent, another purple candle will be lighted, to signify peace --a timely reminder that Jesus IS our Prince of Peace!

And, oh, how our present troubled world needs God’s peace for all generations, forever!

May God, our Father, grace us with his peace, through Jesus Christ.

May God’s peace reign in the hearts of all people/all nations, now and forever, amen!

And soon, four days from now, it will be Christmas!

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son.” (John 3:16)

We recall Christ’s birth written in Isaiah 7:14:

“Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and she will name Him Immanuel.”

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6).

And we recall how the faith/love/obedience to God of Mary and Joseph paved the way for the coming of Jesus!

“Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family line of David, to be registered along with Mary, who was engaged to him and was pregnant.

“While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. Then she gave birth to her firstborn son, and she wrapped him tightly in cloth and laid him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”(Luke 2:4-7)

“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14)

“And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army, praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest: and on earth peace to men of good will.” (Luke 2:14)

May all continue to praise/give glory to God, not only on this day, this season, but all through the days and years!

May all share with one another, especially among the most needy, their love, time, talent, and treasure and celebrate Christmas all the years through!

Christmas is the time of year when our migrants flock to churches abroad, eager to welcome the Lord but in tears because they are not with their loved ones.

This Christmas, let us remember our millions of migrants all throughout the world and offer prayers for them/their families.

May the time finally come when our migrants are not forced to leave home to support their families.

May the time finally come when government is finally responsibly providing jobs/sufficient/fair salaries so no Filipino will ever have to be forced to go abroad and be separated from their loved ones.

May future Christmases and years see Filipinos finally able to feed themselves and their families. No more hunger, no more poverty.

Will that time ever come and soon?

Let us take heart and remember the angel’s words to Mary during the Annunciation: “For with God, nothing shall be impossible.” (Luke 1: 37).

This Christmas, let us also remember that Pope Francis announced the Ordinary Jubilee Year of 2025, with the theme Pilgrims of Hope in his Bull of Indiction Spes non confundit (“Hope does not disappoint”).

The jubilee (which will begin in Rome on the vigil of the Lord’s Nativity, Dec. 24, 2024 and “proclaimed every 25 years since the 13th century)” is considered “a significant moment in the life of the Church in which she celebrates the year of messianic favor inaugurated by Christ through his Incarnation and Paschal Mystery (cf. Luke 4:19/John Paul II, Tertio millennio adveniente).”

Happy God-blessed Christmas to you all!