Theotokos

-an overdue post which couldn't be posted since 2 weeks ago. Thank God for 12 days of Christmas again.-

It's the Advent season now. Christmas is in 3 days. Yet, there's no "Christmas mood". My dad was complaining about Mario and I being too lazy to put up the Christmas tree. "No Christmas feel without the tree in the house" he says. I wanted to blow a few hundred bucks on a leather jacket (i know i live in the tropics!) and a pair of shoes yesterday in town... but decided that i wasn't gonna be sucked into the Christmas shop-till-u-drop or shop-till-u-blow-a-huge-hole-in-your-wallet again.

After all, isn't Christmas supposed to be ABOUT A BOY? About the mystery of the Incarnation, in which chose to take a form of a slave, emptying Himself of the glory He so richly deserves, and gave Himself unto death? (Philippians 2: 5-8) So what's all this jazz abt "Christmas spirit"? What spirit? Splurging on friends and family through buying gifts? Buying that knockout Christmas dress/suit to wear for Midnight Mass and the parties thereafter?

It's rather odd that we forget the true meaning of the birth of our Lord. Advent is a time of expectations, of glad tidings, where prepare for the entry of Christ into our hearts once again as we celebrate His choice to be born of man. More importantly, we are called to be pregnant with Jesus in us, like Mary - Theotokos (God-bearer in Greek). As Nick reminded me last night, to bring the gift of baby Jesus to those who have Him not.

And that is tough. How can i bear Christ in me when there are still things that tie and weigh me down? Having to face people who were once friends and yet now merely sit on the sidelines and judge without getting their hands dirty... looking at ourselves as we recollect our year's experience and realising through the grace of God how weak we have been... keeping our own relationship with God going strong even though sometimes it's so tiring and so much easier to just live life on our own, ignore our communities and live (apparently) happily ever after in our own bubble worlds, chasing the glories the world has to offer...

Theotokos. I wonder how Mary could say "YES" to God. Her "YES" was the most important yes anyone has said to God. And it's really a struggle to continue saying "yes" to Him, even in the small things.

"Will you go where you dun know and never be the same?"

Yet God has also been gracious. He has this magnificent ability to pick us up when we're down. All we have to do is to lean on Him. He really makes my feet swift as those of hinds and enables me to go upon the heights (Habbakuk 3: 19). And God is faithful. That's my testimony for this season. Always faithful. His grace is sufficient, and the He grows in us the desire to continue saying "YES" to Him.

This is my prayer this season; that we will all understand these words:

You and I are made to worship
You and I are called to love
You and I are forgiven and free
When you and I embrace surrender
When you and I choose to believe
Then you and I will see
Who we were meant to be

So just call and send us out Lord. Let us bear You in our hearts and lives. Wholly Yours.

Rhino 5