The Joy of Christmas
Every time I went to my apostolate area at the Home for the Elderly, Tatay Berto would always be there, waiting for us, shaking our hands, asking how we were. At the end of each visit, he would smile and say, “Sana maabutan ko kayo maging pari at ako na ang magbebless sa inyo.” I would usually respond, “Hindi po natin sure, Tay,” and he would gently reply, “Hindi mo nga sure, pero may awa ang Diyos.” Perhaps it was this unwavering trust in the mercy of God that gave Tatay Berto a quiet joy, one that he shared effortlessly with everyone he encountered. His simple yet profound awareness of God’s mercy made joy tangible, almost contagious. In many ways, this is the same joy we recall today as we remember the first Christmas: the moment when God revealed Himself as one of us. The joy of Christmas is found in the presence of God. In this presence, there is no longer room for lasting sadness or grief, because God does not come to us ...
