At the Heart of Mission

In his message for the web's "The Nine Gifts" this year, Cardinal Orlando Quevedo wrote  "Gratitude is our response, but gratitude is not meant to remain as a prayer of the heart. It is meant to be expressed in Mission, in sharing our gifts with others." Indeed, we ought to be Christians not just in name, but in action. The same prelate remarked on a separate occasion that despite the commercialization of Christmas, we have the Misa de Gallo and Belen which puts Christ in the center stage of the season.
The Belen, which has been a feature in our churches and homes these days, offer us ways to become missionaries. First of all, we have Mary who humbly gave her "yes" to be God's Mother (Lk 1:26-38), proclaimed the greatness of the Lord (Lk 1:46-56), and treasured in her heart what the shepherds told her (Lk 2:19). Second is Joseph, the just man (Mt 1:19). Though no words of his were recorded in Sacred Scripture, his life was devoted to fulfilling God's will. Third are the shepherds who, after visiting the Child Jesus, "spread the message they had received about Him" (Lk 2:18). Finally, the Magi who, after offering their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, "returned to their country by another route" (Mt 2:12).
Each character has become a missionary. What holds them together is the Christ Child. Christ was that " power of salvation" which endowed the rest of the Belen characters to share their gifts with others. Without Him, all the other characters would just be nothing. This holds true for us, the new characters of the Belen of today. Without Christ in the heart of any missionary, any endeavor will be fruitless,  for "apart from Me you can do nothing" (Jn 15:5).
As we celebrate the Lord's Birth, may we rediscover the centrality of Jesus in our lives. May our encounter with Him - through prayer, the sacraments, the "signs of the times", and our service in the community of believers - endow us with His Spirit that we may also share whatever gift we have with others, especially those who still do not know Christ.
A Blessed Christmas and a Peaceful and Healthy New Year!