Philippine Asian News Today Vol 20 No 23 | Page 25

December 1 - 15, 2018 PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY RELIGIOUS Pope Francis explains symbolism of Vatican Christmas tree and sand nativity As the Vatican illuminated its 65-foot Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square Friday, Pope Francis shared the deeper meaning found in the traditional festive spruce. The signs and symbols found in Christmas traditions can “help us to contemplate the mystery of God made man to be close to each one of us,” Francis said Dec. 7. “The Christmas tree with its lights reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world, the light of the soul that drives away the darkness of animosity and makes room for forgiveness,” he continued. The great height of this year’s Christmas tree -- cut from Italy’s Cansiglio forest -- symbolizes that the Son of God, who lowered himself in assuming the human condition to draw man up to himself, the pope explained. God raises man “from the fogs of selfishness and sin” and invites him to “participate in his divine and incorruptible nature.” The Vatican also unveiled the annual nativity scene in St. Peter’s square, this year sculpted entirely out of sand. The 52-foot-wide sand sculpture of Mary, Joseph, the Child Jesus, and an angel was created by four international artists using around 700 tons of sand brought from the Dolomites. The concept of a sand nativity originated from a tradition from the Northern Italian beach-town of Jesolo, where professional sand sculptors from around the world create original renderings of the nativity and other Christian stories for locals and visitors to enjoy each Christmas season. Pope Francis reflected that sand is a humble, poor material that “recalls the simplicity, the smallness with which God showed himself at the birth of Jesus in the precariousness of Bethlehem.” “Contemplating the God child, who emanates light in the humility of the nativity scene, we can also become witnesses of humility, tenderness and goodness,” Francis said. Pope Francis encouraged families and communities come together to reflect upon the meaning of these Christmas traditions: “The nativity and the tree, fascinating symbols of Christmas, can bring families and meeting places a reflection of the light and tenderness of God to help everyone to live the feast of the birth of Jesus.”(Courtney Grogan, CNA) Advent demands conversion, Cancer can strike at any moment… It can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, health or socioeconomic status. Receive up to $100,000 in the event of a cancer diagnosis You can use the payment any way you like — — Advent is a time of waiting and expectation, Pope Francis said Sunday, but this season also requires a “journey of conversion.” “To prepare the way for the Lord who comes, it is necessary to take into account the demands of conversion,” Pope Francis said in his Angelus address Dec. 9. Conversion requires changing your attitude, Francis explained. “It leads to humbly recognizing our mistakes, our infidelities, and defaults.” The pope focused on the invitation of St. John the Baptist, who proclaimed a baptism of repentance as a voice of one crying out in the desert, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” “The Baptist invited the people of his time to conversion with force, vigor, and severity,” Francis said. “Yet he knew how to listen, he knew how to perform gestures of tenderness, gestures of forgiveness towards the multitude of men and women who came to him to confess their sins and be baptized.” “Even today, the disciples of Jesus are called to be his humble, but courageous witnesses to rekindle hope,” the pope said. The pope suggested that each person asks, “How can I change something in my attitude to prepare the way for the Lord?” One necessary step is “making concrete gestures of reconciliation with our brothers, asking for forgiveness of our faults,” he explained. “The Lord helps us in this, if we have good will.” Christians are called to help people understand that “despite everything, the kingdom of God continues to be built day by day with the power of the Holy Spirit,” he said. “May the Virgin Mary help us to prepare the way of the Lord day by day, beginning with ourselves,” Pope Francis prayed. — — Meet your financial obligations (mortgage or loan, credit cards, etc.) Receive additional medical care (home care, professional services, etc.) Pay for services (caregiver, babysitter, etc.) Cover unforeseeable expenses Your coverage A cancer insurance policy from iA Excellence will provide you with a lump sum benefit up to $100,000 if you are diagnosed with a life-threatening form of cancer. — — — — — No medical exam required Benefits payable upon diagnosis of a life threatening cancer Eligible from birth to age 65 Coverage up to age 75 Possibility to add Prevention, Critical Illness and Return of Premium riders To learn more about how you can ensure that you are covered, contact: Rey Fortaleza 255 610 6 th Street New Westminster, BC V3L 3C2 [email protected] 778-895-6667 Underwritten by: WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM 25