It's HIS birthday

THE story is told about a little boy who was asked if he got everything he wanted for Christmas. The boy answered, "No, but it's OK. After all, Christmas is Jesus' birthday, not mine."

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In today's Gospel (Jn. 1, 1-8), we are reminded of the Incarnation: "And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us." It's Christmas day. It's HIS birthday today. Has He found a dwelling in your mind and in your heart? Is He present in our homes and in our midst? It's so easy to forget this profound gift and mystery of God's presence in our midst because we are so engrossed in the presents we want to give and receive. And it's so easy to forget His birthday wish because we are so focused on our Christmas wish.

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Today, Jesus' birthday, why don't you ask Him what's His birthday wish for you: "Lord, do you want me to forgive some people? Do you want me to change a bad habit? Do you want me to terminate a sinful relationship? Do you want me to lessen my pride and selfishness?" Yeah, ask Him. Find some time to spend with Him in prayer. After all, it's His birthday today, right?

Perhaps, as a nation, we should pause and ask Him today what His wish for the Philippines is: "Lord do you want the present administration to go on? Do you want to change the present breed of politicians, government and military officials in our midst? Do you want our people to live in poverty and suffering? What is it that we, as a people, are doing wrong? What is it that you ask of each one of us?"

Hey, it's His birthday, remember? Not what we want. Not what our leaders want, but what He wants.

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If we ask the birthday celebrant Himself, He will perhaps tell us that: keeping Christmas is fine, but sharing Christmas is better. Christmas decorations are fine, but Christmas action is better; Christmas caroling is fine, but Christmas caring is better; Christmas presents are OK, but Christmas presence is better. Christmas partying is OK, but Christmas parting with one's possessions for others is better.

If only we really listen to Him.

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The greatest story ever told is about a God who loved the world so much that He sent His only Son to redeem it. The saddest story ever told is about a world that refused to accept Him then, and which refuses to accept Him even now. And so it is that whenever we tell and retell the Christmas story, we are reminded of who we are -- children of God so loved by the Father. It has been 2,005 years since the first Christmas. Are you a part of the greatest story or the saddest story ever told?

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Someone once said that we miss out on the Christmas nativity scene because we are engrossed in the activity scene. This dawned on me one evening when, hurrying from a previous Mass, I rushed into a hotel function room for a silver wedding anniversary Mass. As I was preparing for the Mass, I was surprised to realize that I knew nobody in the congregation. I soon realized that I was with the wrong gathering in the wrong function room. That was a reminder for me to slow down on the activity scene and to focus more on the nativity scene.

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We have not only commercialized Christmas, we also have professionalized it. And so it is that we become super-busy in our professions (even in our priestly profession) this time of the year. Even professional beggars abound this time around. For some, it is all business and a frenzied time to make money. It's the time for buying and selling, partying and merrymaking. OK, fine, whatever, but please don't forget where Christmas really happens -- in our hearts; and where Christmas really matters -- in our loving and in our sharing what we have with those in want.

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On a personal note, a Christmas moment happened last Dec. 20 in our family with the birth of KC Santos, the first great-granddaughter of our Mama Conching and daughter of our niece Ren and her husband JE. Welcome to this world KC! May you and your generation have a brighter tomorrow, a more peaceful world, a healthy environment and a better Philippines, and many meaningful Christmases to celebrate.

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I wish you all a truly blessed Christmas! I wish you a heart that has reconciled and is at peace with God; a home that is filled with lots of caring and love that overflows to others in want; a country that is free from too much politics; and a world where God is truly dwelling among us.

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Fr. Toter Resuello invites all alumni of the St. Francis Seminary in Lipa City for a homecoming on Dec. 30, 2005. The celebration of the Eucharist starts at 8:30 a.m. with Archbishop Ramon Arguelles and Bishop Reynaldo Evangelista. For inquiries, call +63 43-7564190 and +63 43-7562175.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, Happy Birthday! Please remind me, tell us again, what will make you truly happy. Amen.

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