Love. Peace. Joy.

What was the Christmas song that Michael Jackson popularized when he was younger? Give Love on Christmas Day. I remember our class singing that song for the Christmas program in school.

What is the most popular Christmas carol? It was first sung in German but has been translated into many languages. It was first sung at midnight Mass of Christmas and was accompanied by a guitar. The carol is Silent Night.

What Christmas carol invited people to rejoice? Joy to the World.

Love. Peace. Joy. They make up the spirit of Christmas.

Love

For God so loved the world that he sent his only Son so that those who believe in him may not perish but have everlasting life.

For parents and those who take care of young people, St. John Bosco said that it is not enough that you love them. They must feel that you love them. And for young people, the spelling of love would be t-i-m-e.

Christmas is an eminently family celebration. Without love that is hear-felt, the noche buena would be merely a sumptuous meal rather than a family feast.

Love has become a cliché. But love can find many expressions within the confines of the home. Opening one’s eyes would reveal endless possibilities. Bringing a pasalubong (gift given upon arriving home) to one’s kid brother or sister says “I love you enough to remember you”.

Peace

Isaiah calls Jesus the Prince of Peace. The angels sang: Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth. Christ Jesus came to reconcile us to one another and to the Father.

Peace is not merely the absence of noise or violence. It is present when there is good will and harmony.

We may need to control our temper. We may need to exercise patience. We may have to keep watch over our tongues. More often than not, we use our tongues to hurt one another. We use our tongues in heated exchanges and quarrels.

Joy

The angel said to the shepherds: “I bring you good news of great joy. Today the Messiah is born for you in Bethlehem.”

Be joyful. Be glad. How? Many times making other people happy makes us happy, too. A small act of kindness for another human being is all it takes. I remember one Christmas day, a mother was boarding a jeepney (mode of public transport in the Philippines), perhaps to bring her three children to their ninongs and ninangs (godparents). She obviously needed help. She boarded the jeepney first and I helped her two children board after her. A small thing. But the smile of gratitude on her face made me feel good. It made me happy.

May the Baby Jesus bless you with love, peace and joy not only for this Christmas, but for always.

Happy Christmas.