CHRISTMAS MIRACLE: A Daily Experience

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CHRISTMAS MIRACLE: A Daily Experience

(December 25, 2023)

 

In the whole of Christendom, Christmas is the most anticipated and very special day. Especially in the Philippines with the longest Christmas celebration ever in the world, it even places ahead of Easter in terms of celebration but not faith significance with Easter as the most important feast in our Catholic faith.

 

This Christmas is no different from all past Christmas celebrations to most of us, if I may say. The usual Simbang Gabi; the festive Christmas parties; the gift-giving with our friends and loved ones; the Balikbayan travels or homecomings; the family reunions; and, of course, the bountiful Noche Buena. All this we celebrate in ways depending on our state of life and financial situation. Whatever status in life we find ourselves in, rich and poor find ways and means to celebrate Christmas. Be it just a simple pandesal and margarine to a queso de bola and ham on our table, we “feast” on Christmas day.

 

With all the traditions that we observe on Christmas Day, a phrase came to mind while attending the Misa de Gallo: CHRISTMAS MIRACLE.

 

The First Christmas Miracle happened in a “stable all forlorn” where a baby was born and laid in a manger. The baby’s name was JESUS. Unbeknown to mankind, the Son of God was born through a virgin named Mary. And behold, the greatest miracle on earth happened that would lift man’s status from slavery to freedom from sin – humanity’s salvation, the greatest gift of God to man.

 

Every year on December 25th, we celebrate the First Christmas Miracle as we commemorate God’s greatest Gift to mankind: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) That is the reason behind the gift-giving practice on Christmas day. The essence and spirit of giving gifts on Nativity Day. Regrettably though, commercialism and materialism of modern times overshadowed this, and we forget.

 


During the Misa de Gallo, as mentioned above, the phrase CHRISTMAS MIRACLE echoes in my mind. In particular,

 

The center of my reflection was God giving the greatest gift of his Son Jesus out of God’s tremendous love to humanity. The faithfulness of God became more evident as I realized that God has been giving mankind gifts every day and every time. The Christmas Miracle is happening daily in our life.

 

-         When we wake up every morning after a night’s sleep, that is a Christmas Miracle.

 

-         When we come to our dining table and find food to nourish our bodies, that is a Christmas Miracle.

 

-         When we go to school, to work, or to anywhere else safely, that is a Christmas Miracle.

 

-         When a stranger smiles on us as we go about our business, that is a Christmas Miracle.

 

-         When we live another day despite the struggles and pains we experience due to an illness or a disability, that is a Christmas Miracle.

 

-         When we receive a text message or a call from that special person in our life, that is a Christmas Miracle.

 

-         When we cry and feel lonely for whatever reason yet still able to move on and face life as it goes, that is a Christmas Miracle.

 

-         When we get the chance to share our blessings to the less fortunate ones, that is a Christmas Miracle.

 

-         When we remain faithful to God and believe in His love despite the hardships and pains we experience in life, that is a Christmas Miracle.

 

There are so much more of the Christmas Miracle that we experience daily in our life, we are just not so conscious about them. As we live, we experience God’s gift of life which we should always celebrate and be grateful for not only our birth anniversaries, but every day. God’s gift of life to us is a Christmas Miracle happening every day.

 


We are grateful to the Lord God for the daily gifts He gives us. As He gifted mankind with His beloved Son Jesus on the day we now commemorate and celebrate as Christmas Day, we remain thankful to Him for the daily gifts He gives us, known and unknown, consciously and unconsciously.

 

A Christmas Miracle happens daily. Let us rejoice and be glad.

 


Acknowledgments:

 

-         https://180church.com/sermon/the-miracle-of-christmas-jeri-matson/

-         https://www.blogos.org/theologyapologetics/miracle-christmas.php

-         https://www.pinterest.com/pin/448600812863046253/

-         http://sunnydayfamily.blogspot.com/2014/12/christmas-miracle.html

 

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