WORD ALIVE
On the eve of the graduation of a senior high school class, a dedicated and unassuming teacher was invited to a class farewell party.
In her inspirational talk, the teacher said, “Someday you will all be successful in life. But remember, a peso is not a peso without one centavo. I am that centavo in your success.”
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As we ponder the mystery of Christ’s Incarnation (becoming human), we cannot help but think of Mary as the lowly “centavo” instrumental in the birth of Christ, much like that teacher was to her students.
Without Mary’s “fiat” (Latin word for consent), we would not be celebrating Christmas today or the history of salvation would have been rewritten. That’s how crucial the role of our Mother Mary was.
When Mother Mary accepted the will of God, she experienced various hardships and trials, even though she was the Mother of Jesus, the Son of God. For instance, when she gave birth to Jesus, there was no available room in the inn. She had to be contented to deliver her child in a cave where animals took shelter.
Then when Jesus was two years old, Herod wanted to kill him. Joseph and Mary had to flee to Egypt, having known of the mass murders of the male children.
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Let’s not sulk or get angry when things don’t turn out according to our wish. Let’s ask ourselves. When you encounter a serious problem, like if your marriage is floundering, do you give up right away or do you do your best to remedy it? When you lose your job due to the economic crisis, do you give up, knowing that you have a family to feed?
When life is going well for us, we should thank the good Lord. However, when we suffer some failures or deprivations, when things go against our will at times, we should remember that Jesus, Mary and Joseph had suffered even in much worse conditions.
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On Christmas, we greet each other Merry Christmas. Let’s also greet each other Mary Christmas! Without her, there would be no Christmas.
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Humor. A teacher in Religious Education told her pupils to make a drawing on a sheet of paper about the Holy Family.
When the teacher collected the papers, there was one pupil who amused her.
It was titled “Flight to Egypt” and the illustration was an airplane with Jesus, Mary, and Joseph as passengers. “And who is that one in front of the plane”? the teacher asked. The pupil replied, “Ma’m, of course, that’s Pontius the PiloT!”
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If Sta. Claus were alive today, he’d think twice before scaling up into any chimney. Overweight, over 50, and carrying the load of a bulging tummy — Santa would be a candidate for heart attack.
Overweights, take note!
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Give love on Christmas. Please share love and joy to the less fortunate and sick: Vanessa V., 14, in critical condition after a brain operation; five-year-old Genesis Ll., suffering from leukemia; Bernadette V., going through dialysis and heart/lung sickness.
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