MANILA Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines – Amid the many disasters that hit the country this year, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said it is the survivors who are first to understand the real meaning of Christmas.
“The survivors of recent disasters will teach us how to see the Child promised by God with fresh eyes of faith and hope,” the bishop said in his Christmas message on Monday.
Echoing the question on the minds of many Filipinos, Tagle said, “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. With persons and things associated with Christmas either destroyed or gone, what would Christmas be?”
Tagle, however, quoted a woman from Palo, Leyte who answered him, “With the ruins around us, this would probably be the first time I would understand and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas.”
The archbishop said it was a “mysterious answer” but said it also contained truth and wisdom.
Tagle said the central sign of Christmas was a baby in a manger and that “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.”
He said this year’s Christmas would be of solidarity and communion.
“I wish all of you, especially Filipinos who are striving to reconstruct their lives and who are far from home, a Blessed Christmas. May God surprise you anew with the Sign of His love,” Tagle further said.
The Philippines was beset by a number of disasters this year. In September, thousands of families from Mindanao were displaced by the Zamboanga city siege. A month after, a 7.2 magnitude earthquake hit Bohol, Cebu and other provinces. Meanwhile, at least 6,000 people were killed last November 8 when Supertyphoon “Yolanda” struck Eastern Visayas and nearby areas with strong winds and storm surges.