Holiday spirit

A THIRD of Filipinos are expecting a more prosperous Christmas celebration. According to a recent Pulse Asia survey conducted from Nov. 14 to 20, 34 percent of the 1,200 respondents said Christmas would be more prosperous this year, up by 12 points from 22 percent last year.
During this season, it is easy to get drowned with the latest and greatest deals on how we can celebrate Christmas with awesome gifts. It is during this time that people get caught up in the hoopla of purchasing that perfect something or scoring a sweet deal on the hottest items on the market.
While the Yuletide season draws excitement and drums up causes for celebration, it would do us well to make the the merrymaking more meaningful by taking a minute to think about why we have Christmas to look forward to.
For Filipinos, this is a religious gathering to mark the birth of Christ, which is marked by giving gifts and sharing blessings during the holiday. On Tuesday, Dec. 16, Pinoy devotees trooped to churches for the first of the nine-day “Simbang Gabi” (dawn masses) leading to Christmas Day on Dec. 25.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) reminded Filipinos that the meaning of Christmas lies not in parties or decor, but with God.
“Indeed that is the message of Christmas. God is not far beyond our reach. God has become small, small like a baby, to make it easier for us to reach him; to carry him; to hug him and caress him; to embrace him and kiss him,” CBCP President and Lingayen-Dagupan Archbishop Socrates Villegas said in his Simbang Gabi message.
“Let us also beg the Lord to open our eyes and hearts that we may always see the wonder of His tender love everyday of the coming year in everything that happens, in every person we meet, in every moment of our lives,” Villegas further said.
These days have a deep meaning for Filipino Catholics. The birth of Christ holds a fundamental place in the lives of these devout Catholics. It is central not as an abstract belief, but as a medium of experience and tradition that provide continuity in life, structure in the community, and principled purpose for existence. It is inescapable for one not to realize the profound message of Christ’s life. The Catholics’ enchantingly vivid idea of what it means to live in this world is simple: do right to others through Christ’s example.
For centuries, followers of the Church are bound by stern and unrealistic expectations that are set by strict traditions. Today, the Church has become less of a moral standard and has rather made itself more of a guide. The season invites 1.2 billion Catholics around the world to find a harmonious relationship with God. It may be religious in nature, but it is not meant to exclude a secular population. This gathering is an event for a good natured intent: unity through reflective observance.
Others pray for good health and fortune, while some wish for deliverance. Some ask for a miracle, a few want to give thanks. Regardless of the desire behind your reflection is, this season is meant to help you identify and find a satisfying meaning to life.
(AJPress)