A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light.
Jn 1:6-8, 19-28
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We have in one of our schools a facility
called “Joy Center”. It used to be the place where the students go during break
time to play table games and board games such as ping pong, table football,
pool, Games of the Generals and chess. It’s aptly called the “Joy Center”
because the boys go there to have fun, to enjoy themselves.
In the same way the Third Sunday of Advent
is called “Gaudete Sunday” or “Joy Sunday” because with Christmas getting
closer, we feel happy. And to highlight the joyful spirit of this Sunday, the color
of the candle of the Advent wreath and of the vestment of the priest is pink. An
alternative color for the vestment is rose.
Of course, this Sunday is not the only
Sunday that is joyful. The whole mood of Advent is joyful. And it is because the
spirit of Christmas itself is one of joy.
The joyful spirit of Christmas is expressed
in the holiday character of the season. Schools, offices, buildings, parishes
and streets are adorned with Christmas lights, Christmas trees, lanterns, and
Santa Claus. Christmas songs are heard over the radio. We hold Christmas
parties in schools, and in offices. We give and receive gifts and Christmas
cards. We wear new clothes. The 13th month pay and Christmas bonus are
awaited with eagerness.
All of these are good. But they are not
enough to express the joy of Christmas. The joy of Christmas comes from giving.
And this giving is to celebrate the giving that happened on that first
Christmas: “God so loved the world that he GAVE his only Son that those who believe
in him may not perish but have everlasting life.”
A Grade Six pupil experienced for himself the
joy that comes from giving. It is a practice to hold a Christmas party in
schools. Following the suggestion of their teacher, the class decided that they
will share the joy of Christmas with other kids. And so they invited some
children from an orphanage to attend their Christmas party in school. It was
after this party that I met this Grade Six pupil. He couldn’t contain his pride
and happiness. He said, “Father, I never thought I would feel this happy.” I
asked him why. And he replied, “Because I saw the orphaned children very happy.
That made me very happy.”
What I am suggesting is that you make your
Christmas joyful by giving. Just like that Grade Six pupil, make your Christmas
joyful by making others happy. Let’s see the ways.
1. Why don’t you share some of your Noche
Buena or Media Noche with your neighbors?
2. I have seen street children who cannot
go to school because they have to make a living by rummaging through garbage.
Why not prepare sandwiches for them? Or buy some hamburger, for example, and
give it to them.
3. You can also go to an orphanage or an
old people’s home or the jail and give them gift packs or food, like spaghetti
and ice cream.
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