Reflecting on the beautiful exhortations by St. Paul, to the church in Rome, each of us have been richly blessed by God through Christ. It's our God-given duty as sons and daughters of the God of Blessings to be a blessing in our communities and families, so that His Name be glorified on earth. Just as God had promised to Abram in the Old Testament when He made a binding Promise which was ultimately fulfilled by the first coming of Christ over 2000 years ago. First to the tribe of Israel and subsequently through the apostolic commissioning of His apostles to bring the gospel of Christ to the ends of the earth. It was beautifully foretold by prophet Isaiah 600 years before Christ's Immaculate Conception through a young Virgin Mary, and confirmed in our Lord's own Words:
"I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless
you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless
those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on
earth will be blessed through you." (Genesis 12:2-3)
"All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to
me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey
everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)
"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The
virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel."
(Isaiah 7:14)
Jesus said: "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham
was, I am." (John 8:58)
He not just says that He existed before Abraham existed 2000
years ago. He also calls himself 'I am', which is the name of God, and Immanuel
or Emmanuel, in Isaiah 7 also has the meaning of "God with us".
Considering God's great revelations of His Salvific Plan
through Christ Jesus, how can I as a son of God, and co-heir with Christ Jesus
in His glorious inheritance keep this beautiful Promise and Gift to myself and
not share it with others who have yet to see His Light? This is the true
meaning of Christmas, that God gave His One and only Son for our sins and the
penalty of sin, which is death, and it's not just about the gifts exchange or
lavish feasting.
My question to all of us here as beloved and blessed
brothers & sisters-in-Christ, how can I help to refresh other believers and
bear the love of Christ to those who are suffering and pining for God's Light
in this Christmas season and the new year ahead with untold challenges from the
dreaded Covid-19 virus and its mutations?
Just as St. Paul wrote in verses 32-33, "so that I
may come to you with joy, by God's will, and in your company be refreshed. The
God of peace be with you all". Amen.
I will close with this beautiful Hymn – O Holy Night
Verse 1
O Holy night!
The stars are brightly shining
It is the night
of our dear Savior's birth
Long lay the
world in sin and error pining
'Til He appears
and the soul felt its worth
A thrill of
hope the weary world rejoices
For yonder
breaks a new and glorious morn
Fall on your knees;
O hear the Angel voices!
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born
O night, O
Holy night, O night divine!
Verse 2
Led by the
light of Faith serenely beaming
With glowing
hearts by His cradle we stand
So led by light
of a star sweetly gleaming
Here come the
Wise Men from Orient land
The King of
kings lay thus in lowly manger
In all our
trials born to be our friend
He knows our
need, to our weakness is no stranger
Behold your
King; before Him lowly bend
Behold your
King; before Him lowly bend
Verse 3
Truly He
taught us to love one another;
His law is
love and His Gospel is Peace
Chains shall
He break, for the slave is our brother
And in His name,
all oppression shall cease
Sweet hymns
of joy in grateful chorus raise we
Let all
within us Praise His Holy name
Christ is the
Lord; O praise His name forever!
His power and
glory evermore proclaim
His power and glory evermore proclaim
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