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Merry Christmas

The gospel passage starts with the census ordered by Augustus. So, Joseph and Mary, who lived at Nazareth, went to Bethlehem because they have to register during a Roman census. Augustus was the one who pacified the Empire. The birth of Jesus tells us that Jesus brought the real peace. It is good that people came for census so that they will know the savior, Jesus.
Jesus was born in Bethlehem in a manger. He was born in an ambiguous and wide-ranging power of the Empire. The angel of the Lord has told the shepherds to go where Jesus was born. This represents that He came for the sinners to save and to offer the world a far greater peace and love transcending all the limitations.
The birth of Christ challenges us to reassess our priorities in life as well as our way of living. It is also a time for us to reflect the words of Jesus in the Sacred Scripture.
Advent is a time of waiting. We are waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. But, we should not also to forget that Jesus is also waiting for us. He waits that we may come back to him.
Humans as we are, we are so much occupied with many things such as material that we forget our responsibility to others. We have duty to be steward to God´s creation, to love other people especially the poor, the outcast, the marginalized, the sinners, the orphans, the downtrodden, the neglected and make them feel that they are loved by the saving grace of Jesus. Let our love be the light that they may see Jesus in us in this very special moment. Let us help one another planting the seed of “Shalom´´ into our hearts by promoting peace and justice to all which will lead us to the fullness of life. If we do these things, we are also doing these to Jesus. As the gospel of Matthew says, “I tell you solemnly, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me” (25:40). In the same gospel, Jesus says, “Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother” (12:50).
Benedict XVI is asking if Mary, Joseph and the Infant Jesus can find room in the inn even today, or if we too are guilty of turning away God himself. Inevitably the question arises, what would happen if Mary and Joseph were to knock at my door? Would there be room for them?
It is useless to blame the people who turned away Jesus centuries ago. It is not yet too late for us to give room for Jesus in our hearts no matter how many thousand of years has passed by for “Emmanuel´´ is always with us and will always be.
written by Joey