The true meaning of Christmas

Day after Christmas, we are sure many are still in a festive mood after all the family gatherings and celebrations with friends. Laughter and stories must have filled the air as we celebrated the birth of our Savior, Baby Jesus.

As we ponder where to go from here and how will we spend the days and the weeks following this most joyous of occasions in our Filipino calendar, may we offer the following prayer:

Father, as we look at the Child Jesus in the manger, we ask you to fill our heart with the desire to love and serve you through the people you send our way.

In our human weakness of selfishness, please remind us that indeed, “Blessed is He comes in the name of the Lord (Psalm 118:26a).” Let us be your blessing and light to others for as Psalm 118:27 says, “the Lord is God and has given us light.”

Grant us the heart, mind and hands to show Your mercy and compassion, especially to the last and the least of our brothers. To be kind, not just this Christmas season but every day that we walk on the face of this earth.

As a yearly tradition, we also like to share with you a valuable lesson taught to me by the late Salvador  “Ka Sonny” Escudero III, former representative of the first district of the province of Sorsogon.

He was also food and agriculture minister during the time of President Ferdinand Marcos and secretary of agriculture during the term of President Fidel Ramos.

Ka Sonny, who passed away a few years ago, was one of our co-anchors in the radio show “Karambola,” together with our good friend, the late newspaper columnist Alvin Capino, Ambassador Teddy Locsin Jr., Cavite Gov. Jesus Crispin Remulla, Rep. Jonathan de la Cruz and lawyer Dodo Dulay.

Tatay, as he was fondly called by his wife, Representative Evie, children Senator Chiz, Philip and Bernadette and the people close to him, believed the true meaning of Christmas was not found in the outward manifestations of this most blessed event in our Christian life.

Ka Sonny gently reminded us that the spirit of Christmas was not limited to Christmas Day alone. He said Christmas was a yearlong affair. Selflessness, thoughtfulness, love and forgiveness were values that should be practiced all-year round.

A song that became popular during an earlier time was the most eloquent expression of Ka Sonny’s philosophy. Google Bing Crosby’s or Frank Sinatra’s “The Secret of Christmas” on the Internet and you’ll see what I mean. I believe you’ll come across it also on YouTube.

It was Ka Sonny’s favorite Christmas song and we always played it on the air every Christmas season. The lyrics of the song are as follows:

“Oh, it’s not the glow you feel when snow appears
It’s not the Christmas card you’ve sent for years
Not the joyful sound when sleigh bells ring (ring, ring, ring)
Or the merry songs children sing
Yeah, the little gift you send on Christmas Day
Will not bring back the friend you turned away
So may I suggest the secret of Christmas (the secret of Christmas)
It’s not the things you do at Christmas time
But the Christmas things you do all year through?
La la, la la la, la la la, la la la la
So may I suggest the secret of Christmas (the secret of Christmas)
It’s not the things you do at Christmas time
But the Christmas things you do all year?
Look at the happy people (it’s not the things you do)
Christmas is in the air (it’s not the glow you feel)
Well, I know the secret of Christmas
A secret I’m willing to share
The secret of Christmas.”

This song acquires a deeper meaning as we ponder the sufferings of our less fortunate brothers and sisters. Sharing our blessings should not just be confined to the Christmas season. Giving should be a yearlong affair.

No matter how small our contribution may be, it will go a long way toward helping ease the pain and suffering of the poor in our midst. We all have the capacity to help one another. This is the true meaning of Christmas as told to me by a very wise man whom I had the honor and privilege of working with in my career.

A Blessed Christmas season to everyone and wishing you all the best in 2017!