Dear Brothers and Sisters

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God....And the Word was made flesh and lived among us" (Jn 1:1, 14).

Christmas is not the mere celebration of the birth of Jesus who inhabited our world two thousand years ago. It also acknowledges that the Word which became flesh is also Emmanuel - God-is-with-us. The Word is God's abiding gift to the world -"God so love the world that He gave us His only Son so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish, but have eternal life" (Jn 3:16).

Our celebration should be another call to recognize His presence among us and to allow His presence to affect the way we live our lives.

The abiding presence of Christ means that there is hope amidst the numerous negative and life-crushing challenges. Christmas reminds us of Christ's promise to us - "I will be with you until the end of time."

In the Incarnation, God chose to become human because he wanted to be in solidarity with us. He wants to tell us that we are not alone in our struggles.

It was to a darkened world that the Word, which became flesh, came and brought light. For many of us, our personal world is enveloped in darkness: house-rebuilding, finances, relationship problems, employment, rising cost of living, increasing gas price and the impending 5% levy.

These issues have a very negative impact not only on our physical or material lives, but they do affective our emotional and spiritual lives.

So as we celebrate another Christmas, let the Word be made flesh in your heart so that we would be able to cope with life challenges.

St. Paul encourages us "Let us be cognizant of his abiding presence in and with us so that we may find hope in our despair, light in our darkness and joy in our sufferings.

Let the peace of Christ reign in your hearts now and always.

Wishing all a Merry Christmas and best wishes for the New Year.