Too much materialism in the world has diminished the real essence of Christmas: that of the coming of God our Father’s Son, Jesus Christ, into our world to save it from sinfulness and shame. Christmas has been trivialized into Santa Claus, his reindeers, Christmas lights and trees and lots of toys and goodies to bring cheer to humankind on this festive holiday season.
Fortunately, this materialism that shrouds most parts of the globe has not entirely infected the spirits and traditions of the Filipinos, who still look at Christmas as a period of preparing for the coming of God into the Earth by transforming himself into a human being—complete with flesh, blood, sufferings and poverty.
As we approach the actual coming of our Savior, let us reflect how we have, individually and collectively, been preparing ourselves in mind, body and spirit, for this joyful and spiritually reinvigorating moment in our predominantly Catholic nation.
