It all happened one night in Bethlehem. While shepherds were tending to their flock, a heavenly choir erupted to herald the coming the birth of the ‘Messiah’. To a generation of people who were looking for deliverance from hatred, cruelty, despair and an ever-growing awareness of decadence around us. Looking for hope, peace and a “new way”. And then it happened, without the pyrotechnics, the hype, pomp or fanfare. Poor Joseph must have lost his mind trying to find a place for Mary and the baby. There were no ICUs and hospitals were about 2000 years in the making. Imagine Mary’s angst, both mental and physical, while in labor knowing that this child would change the course of mankind in the final three-and-a-half years of his life.

And then it happened in the most unsuspecting place. A stable. A place that you would least expect the Son of God to begin his journey as a mortal for thirty-three and a half years. As Joseph gave up his search in a futile attempt to find a room for his son, you can imagine how he must have felt. Frustrated and concerned. Truly, a humble beginning for God who came to dwell amongst us as a man, who deliberately chose to do that for us, so that we may find peace, joy, love and liberation.

Our lives, even in today’s world, in both the individual and collective sense is reminiscent of those times. We live in a world that needs deliverance from hatred, cruelty, growing despair and an ever growing awareness of decadence around us. And yes, we might feel hurried, stressed, worried both mental and physical.

And then, as it always has, Christmas happens.

When all these things don’t seem to matter anymore, as we stand in solidarity choosing to bear the spirit of Christmas in our minds and hearts. Where time stands still, and we choose to spend the day among our nearest and dearest in celebration of the fact that God became a man, to save us despite being at our very worst. This is mankind’s redeeming moment every year where Christmas brings us all together for a common purpose.

To live in harmony, peace, joy, happiness and find it in our heart to be at our best, if only for a day.

Here’s a verse from Psalty’s Christmas Calamity [a cassette tape that we used to listen to when we were kids]:

We often start to worry,
and people get upset,
if things don’t all go right.

What we should remember
in all the push and shove
’cause is Christmas is a time to love.

Maybe things don’t sound right,
or look the way they should,
and may be they’re not perfectly in tune.

It really doesn’t matter,
let’s keep our eyes above,
’cause Christmas is a time to love.

This is not only the essence of Christmas, but truly, the inner spirit that will redefine who we are. This is but a reflection of God making us in his own image.

So, in closing, I would like to wish all of you a blessed and wonderful Christmas. Make it beautiful and as happy as you’d like it to be and treasure it too, for when you look back in time, these are moments that you will savor most.

God bless.