WELCOME HIS SECOND COMING, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

FROM ADVENT TO CHRISTMAS: WELCOME HIS SECOND COMING, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS!

The season of Advent is all about preparation, preparation for the First Coming of Christ, His birth. This event is marked by a defined and well-known period of time that spans the advent season up to December 25.
 
But there too is another coming that we ought to prepare for even more: His Second Coming, the final judgement, the end of the world. Unlike His First, this Second Coming is one that is unknown, unpredictable and spans a period that lasts till the end of time. Everyone knows the waiting has started long ago, but no one knows when it will end.
 
Every one of us can relate to this quite differently from each other, depending on one's circumstance.
 
For example, a student may see it as his final exam. If he studied thoroughly and prepared well, he is relatively calm, excited even. If not-torture! He is a nervous wreck, anxious and afraid of the outcome.
 
Our preparation for the First Coming of Christ is bound by a sense of tradition, habit, familial love and professional courtesy. Shopping for gifts for clients/friends/family, cooking food for noche buena, participating in the Simbang Gabi and other Filipino practices define our preparation for His birth. These are not altogether wrong. However one should realize this only scratches the surface of the more essential event that lies underneath.
 
Like the example above, to prepare for His Second Coming means "studying and discerning our hearts well." It is to read, understand and feel His word from cover to cover; to apply His teachings in our daily lives. if we do this, we do not need to memorize in order to pass the test. The answer will come naturally to us if we truly make it part of our lives everyday.
 
"You can never prepare enough."
 
"You can never be TOO prepared."
 
Which one is correct?
 
Both.
 
But while the former is true, the latter addresses this reality too. We may never be prepared for something unknown and unpredictable (His Second Coming) but we can certainly do our very best to prepare in the way we know how. We can never be too prepared because honestly, "kung maghanda ka sa abot ng iyong makakaya, at least may laban ka!" (If you will prepare up to your utmost capacity, at least you have a fighting chance!) You may not come up with a fool-proof plan, but you can at least try to save your soul by "fighting the good fight" for your faith.
 
To Him, you are one step closer to heaven every time you try.
 
So enjoy the preparations! Because truly, there is no real Christmas without a "real Advent". As we celebrate the first Christmas on the 2013th Birthday of Jesus, we can not but prepare for the 'Second Christmas' were we to meet Jesus, face to face: no longer in a manger - but with Him, finally.
 
A Happy Birthday to Jesus towards a face to face "meet and greet" with Him personally!!!

Rev. Fr. Vic Y. Apacible

Rector / Parish Priest

THE ROAD TO CHRISTMAS

I have always admired the cobblestones along the historic streets in Europe. I recently encountered these beautiful pathways again. Every stone reminded me of those who built these roads, carefully landscaping and placing each unique stone in its rightful place for the whole path to be perfect. Imagine, because of them, so many important people in world history have walked on these cobblestones. So many of their stories can be told by these streets.

As I continued to walk, I thought: How strong and resilient these roads must be to last for centuries (even longer) for all generations to enjoy! Thanks mostly to those who first laid down each stone, these streets have withstood the test of time.

I guess the road to Christmas is the same. If Christ is coming - the most important figure in our history - shouldn't we better prepare the road for Him? A road as strong as these cobblestone paths. Nothing flamboyant, only good old simple walkways that stay strong and intact through the years.

To pave the road for Christmas, it is key to recognize the gifts we have received and will give along the way. The most recent gift we have received is the elevation of Archbishop Chito Tagle to Cardinal by the Holy Father. During the consistory, an air of national pride, honor, as well as a humbling sense of gratitude, was felt within the sacred walls of St. Peter's Basilica. 

Yet as Cardinal Tagle said, it is a big responsibility to carry; a responsibility shared by each and everyone of us. We thank God for the gift of having such a wise, wholistic and heartstrong man like him to represent us Filipinos in the Church.

The road to Christmas cannot be traveled without looking back to the image of the "Belen". We have been so accustomed to the romanticized image of the Belen as "cute" or "colorful" or "nice" that we sometimes forget its grim history. To be upfront, the true Belen wasn't nearly cute or nice and happy.

The road to Bethlehem that Joseph and Mary took is most difficult for a poor man and his young, pregnant wife. To give birth in an animal's manger is unimaginable! Inhuman! Mary must have been so cold, hungry, scared and uncomfortable just like any human. Joseph must have also felt fear for his wife and child Jesus, trying to man up and rise above the pressure of providing for and taking care of his family in such stringent conditions.

Christ, as God the Son, allowed for Himself to be born in such a lowly manner, to humble himself and give not just a part of Him but His whole being for humanity. Their sacrifices should never be forgotten. As we look at the Christmas Belen, let us always remember the example each of these "characters" has shown.

Like the composition of unique cobblestones on historic streets, the road to Christmas is not as smooth and as easy as we'd like it to be. It is the road less traveled, chosen only by those who pave it with the true gift of God's love. 

If this road could talk, it is our fervent wish they could speak of stories of compassion, kindness and love in the spirit of the Christmas season. Stories and virtues - good deeds - that are strongly founded and resilient enough to withstand the test of time.

Let us walk in the ways of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as we journey through the road to Christmas.

A HAPPY, HEARTSTRONG CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Rev. Fr. Vic. Y. Apacible

 

JESUS CHRIST, GOD-WITH-US

AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH
JESUS CHRIST, GOD-WITH-US

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through Him, and without Him nothing came to be.

What came to be through Him was life, and this life was the light of the human race. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through Him, but the world did not know Him. He came to what was his own, but His own people did not accept Him.

But to those who did accept Him he gave power to become Children of God, to those who believe in His name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

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.

A Blessed Christmas to all! This is the great day we have longed for, and for which we have been preparing these past four weeks - the commemoration of the earthly birth of God's Eternal Son. No words can express the importance of that event in the history of humankind as well as our personal lives.

In all truth, we can say that, after the birth of Jesus Christ, nothing and nobody has been the same as before, for in Him, God has become a brother to every human being in the fullest sense. God's incarnate Son has come to share our problems, worries, and aspirations, that we might share God's peace and God's very life.

With sincere hearts full of gratitude and rejoicing, let us offer ourselves totally to the Lord as we celebrate this Christmas Day, God's Eternal Love for mankind, in the person of Jesus Christ.


Euchalette, 25 December 2008
WORD AND LIFE PUBLICATIONS
MCPO Box 1820, Makati City 1258, Philippines