Dear brothers and sisters, today is the day when the first stage of Advent is coming to an end. 17 December will be the second stage of Advent: commemorating the birth of the Lord Jesus. Unfortunately, Christmas has now become a holiday of the commercial society and is a long holiday. If you think about it carefully: the streets and alleys, shopping malls and other places we pass by every day have decorations celebrating Christmas, which may be bear cubs, snowmen, Santa Claus, pandas, etc., but there is no baby Jesus. It’s like a Christmas without Jesus!
On the other hand, there is a manger in the church; however, in some parishes, the baby Jesus is already placed there before Christmas, making Jesus look like a premature baby, with no sense of the liturgical schedule! Of course, we should not only regard Christmas as a liturgical festival, but also turn it into a festival that can awaken love among people in the world because the Lord Jesus was born into the world out of love.
Many years ago, the Community of Sant’Egidio started the “Christmas Lunch” so that the poor could enjoy a dignified gathering at Christmas. The first “Christmas lunch” was held in the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome; many people were invited, but only 28 people showed up. After more than 30 years of hard work, the Communities of Sant’Egidio around the world now have more than 20,000 guests attending each year. This is a miracle – from 28 to more than 20,000 people, these homeless people, the elderlies and poor families who are neglected by society are remembered and respected at Christmas, and they can share the joy of the birth of the Lord.
Therefore, as members of the Legion of Mary, we too can create miracles. When we come into contact with human souls, we can share with them the joy of the Savior’s birth, making the Incarnate Jesus a significant stage in their growth in life. We should create a Christmas with the presence of baby Jesus.
Spiritual Director
Fr. Francis Tam
15 December 2024