My message for you this Christmas 2007

It’s my third Christmas away from home. Many things have happened, and the most life-changing of all is the departure of our dearest mother Gilda to celebrate Christmas with none other the Celebrant Himself – Jesus, in heaven. This is our first Christmas without her.

Probably this is what it really means to celebrate Christmas - when everything else is gone, when material blessings have disappeared; when we start to experience the weariness of a failing health because of aging and sickness; when we start spending Christmas away from home and our loved ones …

This might be the real meaning of Christmas, when the Christ had to make the ultimate sacrifice by becoming human and at moment of his birth, was immediately rejected by people, to take refuge in a stable.

But inside that stable, fullest and warmest LOVE is felt, one of a purest kind; a LOVE that emanates from the CHRIST CHILD and flowing most immensely to the Blessed Mother who, in awe and wonder, pondered all these in her loving heart; and to foster father St. Joseph who said yes to God’s plan to count Jesus among the lineage of Kings; to the shepherds - oh, the poor shepherds who at that moment are the richest of all and most richly blessed; and to the hosts of heaven above with the angels rejoicing and singing songs of love and praise – all to the delight and the glory of OUR FATHER in heaven.

Yes, despite the frailties of human existence, we still are richly blessed; and our loving departed who have gone before us also rejoice with the happiness that nobody would ever supply except HIM alone – YES, JESUS IS CHRISTMAS, YES, HE IS OUR LORD, OUR LOVED ONE, THE ONLY ONE WHO FILL OUR LIVES WITH HAPPINESS THAT WILL NEVER END.

So with this, let me greet you the merriest Christmas and the happiest New Year for you and your families. I send no other gift except LOVE itself.

I hope to finish must studies next year, so please pray for me so I can be with my family and serve you again.


IN HIS LOVE,

Fr. Lito Jopson

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