Christmas this year comes at the heels of tragic events in the country: a series of storms that have wrought death and destruction; a massacre of innocents in Maguindanao, including women and members of the media, boding ominously for the election campaign next year.

No one can dispute that all these, not to mention the current economic downturn, have cast a pall over the country, muting many a Christmas celebration. Thus, in the Supreme Court, our Christmas program will be shorn of the usual celebrities from the entertainment industry and glitzy production numbers. 

We will however continue to hold the Interfaith and Eucharistic Celebration, as we should. The same makes us hark back to the simplicity and significance of the first Christmas. Darkness then was upon a world adrift of its Creator; humankind “was in sin and error pining.”  And then, like a light dispersing the darkness, just as foretold in Isaiah 9: 6-7, “to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the Government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Indeed on that first Christmas, we have received our greatest gift, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And even as we may have to do without the material trappings we usually associate with Christmas in this and other years, so long as we abide by His teachings of love, good will, charity, compassion, and service to others, then it may be said we have continued to keep Christmas.

Isang Maligaya at Makabuluhang Pasko sa inyong lahat!