Cardinal Tagle: Disasters and ruins give us a new image of Christmas

Dec. 24, 2013: The recent disasters that have hit the Philippines help the faithful to understand the true meaning of Christmas: Christ who becomes a child, weak and humble, to give us new hope." This was the Christmas message of Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, the archbishop of Manila. Noting that many people have been wondering how Christmas would be like for the survivors of the Zamboanga crisis, the earthquake in Bohol and super typhoon Yolanda, Cardinal Tagle said all these natural disasters and the political crises must make us rethink our priorities and focus on the true meaning of Christmas: the Child who is among us .That of 2013 must be a Christmas of compassion, solidarity and communion, he said. All other signs of Christmas - lights, food, revelry, costumes, and gifts- must be rooted in and draw their meaning from the core Sign: the humble person of the Son of God, who emptied himself to become one of us. Divine glory is seen in a child's weakness; heavenly radiance is made manifest in humility; and God's justice is revealed as compassion, he added. Cardinal Tagle exhorted the people not to forget the Christ-child but contemplate and adore Jesus, who is truly God's presence among us. Christmas 2013 should be a Christmas of solidarity and communion. He said but this will happen only with serious soul-searching, review of values, reordering of priorities, and commitment to God, neighbor, country and creation. The survivors of recent disasters will teach us how to see the Child promised by God with fresh eyes of faith and hope , he added, wishing Filipinos who are striving to reconstruct their lives and everyone who are far from home - a Blessed Christmas.
Source: AsiaNews