Ears to Hear With

Since the third Sunday of Advent, the manger scene (or Belen) has already been put up in our parish sans the Holy Family, shepherds, and kings; only cows, donkeys, and of course the manger.  Last Sunday, just a few steps from the Belen were papier mache figures of Mary, Joseph, and an angel. All three have their distinctive costumes - Mary wearing a veil, Joseph also wears a veil and has a beard and moustache, and the angel has wings and a halo. They didn't have faces though. What caught my attention was that one of Joseph's ears could be easily seen.  I am not sure if this was done on purpose, but it just gave a link to another event I attended the day before.

The day before we went to church, our rosary group held its annual Christmas Party celebration. For this year, members - young ones and once - were asked to wear a cartoon character costume. Chiara and Nidz were Princess Anna and Queen Elsa (from the Disney's "Frozen") respectively, while I was Superman.  

Others 'portrayed' Snow White, Woody, and Prince Charming, to name a few. This was the first time we did this in observance of our fifth anniversary this year. In my welcome remarks, I told my colleagues that Christmas is indeed for the children, and for the child at heart.  Hence, our attempt to capture that 'child in us' via our costumes.

But what if we fail to capture that child in us?  Beyond the costumes and glitter, I think it is necessary for us to listen. Going back to Joseph's papier mache in church (or to his ear to be more specific), we would recall how this unassuming man lent his ear to God's word. By listening to God, he became enlightened (i.e. that his future wife is bearing God's Son), by becoming enlightened he obeyed (i.e. he took Mary as his wife), and by obeying he cooperated with God's plan (i.e. he nurtured Jesus, our Savior). 

Listening is key to welcoming Christmas.  Jose Mari Chan tells (or sings) us more about this in this beautiful Christmas carol:

As we celebrate Christmas, may we also have the ears to hear God's word with so that we too may recapture that child in us - a child who trusts God wholeheartedly, a child who treats others fairly, a child who humbles himself to wash someone else's feet, a child willing to make sacrifices for the good of others, a child like that newborn King lying on the manger, the very reason for Christmas.

From all of us here in anluwage.com, I wish you all a Blessed Christmas!