FROM THE HEAD SERVANT

I wrote this article a few days before Christmas while on vacation in Manila.

 

It was one quiet afternoon. I was sitting on a rocking chair and I was watching these homeless little brown birds we call Maya in our garden. They were feasting and enjoying whatever food or rice was left by our dogs on their pans. There were about thirty of them. Suddenly this question occurred to me: Do the birds know it's Christmas?

 

Ah, Christmas! We all are excited about it and prepare so much for it. We look forward to celebrate it with our families and loved ones. We busy ourselves decorating our homes, putting up Christmas trees, Christmas lanterns and brightly colored lights and, of course, Santa Claus. We go up and down different shopping malls to buy toys and gifts for everyone. We do all these to celebrate Christmas year after year. There's nothing wrong with these. We all love and enjoy doing them. But, has our celebration of Christmas changed year after year? Or better still, has our understanding of the message of Christmas to us changed or deepened over the years? Is Christmas 2001 any different from the previous ones we had or just the same?

 

As Christians, we believe in what is written in John 3:16 that GOD sent His only Son into the world to save it. That Jesus became that little baby in a manger in Bethlehem to bring us peace and salvation.

 

But what humbles me this Christmas is the thought that GOD Himself left the glory and majesty of His Kingdom to come down to earth. He left the beauty and the grandeur of His throne to become man like us. The Master of the Universe so humbled Himself and took on the form of this weak and sinful body of ours in order to save us. The Creator of all the earth became like one of His creations. What humility!

 

Who are we or what have we done to deserve such an indescribable gift? Such unfathomable privilege? Would an earthly king humble himself enough and do the same - leave his palace and become one like his subjects? I don't think so.

 

This Christmas, Brothers and Sisters in Christ, I have two prayers for all of us. First, that all of us will make that decision to go out of our little "kingdoms" and leave the comforts of our palaces to humble ourselves to search, to help, to serve and to save those people in need, even if it is just for one person. Second, that we too like those humble Maya birds may never cease praising our GOD not only during Christmas but also throughout the days of our lives. Amen.

 

A Christ-centered Christmas and a Peaceful New Year to you all!!!

 

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