By Archbishop Oscar V. Cruz
Lingayen-Dagupan Archdiocese
“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out.” (John 1:5)
This is a signal truth forwarded by the gospel reading during this Christmas day. It is an inspiring reminder for us during these dark and still darkening times in our dear country. It is a strong message of hope in these days of much despair, poverty and misery among us as a people.
Christmas means many different things to many different persons. But one distinct significance of Christmas is always the same and true: the birth anniversary of Christ as the incarnate light that guides us in our continuing search for truth, insistent pursuit of justice and constant longing for peace.
Christmas wherefore calls for our sincere gratitude to God the Father for sending his own Son to be our everlasting light and guide in our day-to-day living. Now when our own country is in one big socio-moral darkness basically due to odious and ominous politics, the more we need Christ to light our path to hope, unity and solidarity.
Sad but true, we have to admit that in our country during these trying times, there is too much lying, stealing and cheating, too much graft and corruption, too much greed for power and wealth, too much abuse of human rights and killing of human lives. In short, there is too much darkness in our midst—even during this Christmas season.
