Philippine Asian News Today Vol 19 No 23 | Page 24

24 RELIGIOUS PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY December 1 - 15 , 2017
Wisdom from the Word
Ben Berto

The Purpose of Christmas

21 She will bear a Son ; and you shall call His name Jesus , for [ w ] He will save His people from their sins .” 22 Now all this [ x ] took place to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet : 23 “ Behold , the virgin shall be with child and shall bear a Son , and they shall call His name [ y ] Immanuel ,” which translated means , “ God with us .”
Matthew 1 : 21-23 ,
NASB
For all [ a ] have sinned and fall short of the glory of God . Romans 3 : 23 NASB
In the Philippines the countdown for Christmas begin in September . People begin to prepare for the celebration and with it the plans for the biggest Christmas tree , decorations . Noche Buenas which features the foods we dream of eating , such as queso de bola , fruit
salads , macaroni , ham ( for ham eaters ) and for some lechon , etc . All these eaten at midnight which does none of us good health - wise except to enjoy and satisfy our stomachs and taste buds . For the children , they are treated to have pictures with Santa Claus , gifts under the Christmas tree , and more goodies .
In a deeper sense , the preparation for Christmas began way back before the creation of the world . Before man was ever created , the Plan of Salvation was laid before the foundation of the world . St . Peter , in his letter said , “ knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible
things , like silver or gold , from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers , 19 but with the precious blood of Christ , as of a lamb without blemish and without spot . 20 He
indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world , but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God , who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory , so that your faith and hope are in God . 1 Peter 1 : 18-21 , NKJV
God made the provision that in case man would yield to sin , there is going to be a Redeemer who is going to come as a Man to be with us , to experience all what we will go through , good or bad , and be crucified for our sins . Jesus came to save us FROM our sins , not in our sins . When Adam and Eve ate from the forbidden Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil at the Garden of Eden , the promise was given that a Saviour will come . The serpent or Satan will bruise his heel but the Saviour will crush Satan ’ s head .
( Genesis 3 : 15 )
Handel ’ s Messiah , a majestic song about Christ , is based on Isaiah 9 : 6 which reads For unto us a Child is born , Unto us a Son is given ; And the government will be upon His shoulder . And His name will be called Wonderful , Counselor , Mighty God , Everlasting Father , Prince of Peace . NKJV .
Israel ’ s idea of the Messiah was a great warrior general leading his armies to drive out the hated Roman legions stationed in Palestine , so when He came as a babe from a little town of Bethlehem Ephrathah , the Jews were not prepared to accept Him . Christmas came but they missed it , except for the shepherds , and later the Wise men from the east .
So the purpose of Christmas was that Jesus came to save us from our sins , because all of us have
sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God . Praise the Lord .
For prayer , questions and Bible study , call Ben at 604-581-1278 , Junjun at 778-927-8040 , and Stanley at 604-700-3053 . You are invited to worship with us every Sabbath ( Saturday ) at the Abundant Life Seventhday Adventist Church at 13062-104 Avenue , Surrey . Welcome .
Our new shepherd , Pastor Leomar Macaraig also takes care of the Vancouver Filipino and Burnaby FilCan SDA churches . His phone number is ; 604-928-3579 . Every Friday , we have a Bible Study with the Pastor . Everybody is welcome to attend , whether you are a Seventh-day Adventist or not . The Word of God is for everyone . Our address is 9495- 132 Street , Surrey .

Moments

Fr . Jerry M . Orbos , SVD

Are we there yet ?

The story is told about a couple who took their 5- year-old son on a long road trip . He was so excited at first , but as the trip dragged on and boredom set in , he kept asking : “ Dad , are we there yet ?” At one point the father said : “ If you ask that question again , we will turn back and just go home .” That kept the boy quiet for some time . Finally , unable to bear it any longer , he asked in almost a whisper : “ Dad , will I still be five years old when we get there ?”
In today ’ s Gospel ( Mk . 1 , 1-8 ), we hear how the days before the coming of the Messiah were filled , not with boredom , but with excitement , with the passionate preaching of John the Baptist . The people of Judea and Jerusalem were coming in droves to listen to his message of forgiveness and repentance , and were being baptized by him . As Christmas approaches , are
we excited and inspired , or exhausted and tired ?
For Christmas to be truly Christmas , it has to happen in the heart . And it all starts with humility and repentance , and acceptance of Jesus in our hearts . Let us joyfully await Him , and not merely Santa Claus , or the Christmas bonus , the gifts , the parties and reunions . Without Jesus in our hearts , we will just be touching base with the trimmings of Christmas . Today we light the second candle of the Advent wreath which signifies peace . Are you at peace with God ? Have you made your peace with the Father who loved us so much that He sent His only Son for us ? Make that confession , that adoration , and be reconciled with Him . Do not stay away from His embrace too far , too long .
Are there people you need to reach out to , in humility , for peace and
reconciliation ? Let not pride block your road to peace . Humility is the key that helps us to open closed doors , and helps us level our mountains of pride . The road of humility is not easy , but it is the road , the only road , to true and lasting peace .
Are you at peace with yourself ? Peace comes with acceptance . Accept your past and be at peace . Leave everything and everyone in your past , good or bad , happy or sad , in God ’ s heart . No rewind , no replay . Leave your past in God ’ s heart where everything is forgiven , blessed , embraced , and loved .
You are at peace when you learn how to leave the future in God ’ s hands . We have to accept that there are many things beyond our control , try as we might , so we just have to do our best , and leave to God the rest . We have to learn to trust God more . No fast forwarding ,
WWW . PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY . COM
and no useless worrying .
Who is our model for true peace ? Mama Mary ! She was peaceful in spite of her trials and sufferings , and she was an instrument of hope and peace . Why ? Because she knew how to trust in God . “ Thy will be done , Lord .” This is the best prayer that leads us to true and lasting peace . “ Fiat Voluntas Tua !”
Dec . 12 is the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe . Her message to Juan Diego to whom she appeared , and to us who are often worried and scared is : “ My child , have I ever failed you ? I am here . I am your mother . Do not fear . I am near .”
“ Are we there yet ?” Yes , we are there already , but not yet . Our work for peace is a continuing process . We ourselves are a work in progress . Let us not be dismayed by or lose heart over road blocks and delays . We are assured , we are confident , that our Lord , the Prince of peace whom we serve , will be victorious in the end .
With St . Francis , we pray : “ Lord , make me an instrument of Your peace . Where there is hatred , let me sow love ; where there is injury , pardon ; where there is doubt , faith ; where there is despair , hope ; where there is darkness , light ; where there is sadness , joy . O , Master grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console ; to be understood as to understand ; to be loved as to love . For it is in giving that we receive ; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned ; it is in dying that we are born again to eternal life .”
A moment with the Lord :
Lord , make us peaceful instruments of Your peace . Amen . ( inquirer . net )