IF for Christmas people are busy shopping for gifts and for food for the
Noche Buena, for New Year people in the Philippines, and maybe in other
countries also, are busy buying tokens that can assure good fortune for the
coming year. Thus they buy round fruits to decorate their tables at the turn of
the year. They prepare pancit for long life.
They buy things to make noise with. The bolder ones still buy
firecrackers, even from illegal sources, while others content themselves with
paper and plastic trumpets or drums to scare off the bad spirits as the new
year enters. Then as the hour strikes midnight on December 31, they light the
whole house and open all windows and faucets to invite the good fortune in;
they throw or stick monies around the house to attract other monies in for the
coming year. Oh, what crazy things people do to attract Lady Luck in! Of course,
they do not really believe that these are effective, but who knows? Nothing
wrong in doing these rituals. They may bring luck after all. Anyway, they make
people happy.
There is a deep ingrained belief in us that something or somebody influences
our lives. Is that the unpredictable Fate or Destiny? Is that the Fend Shui
that if we just play the game right, things will turn out right for us? These
forces are irrational after all and so we have to attract them, by louder
noise, by more delicious food, by the right colors or number combinations, etc.
As Christians we also share the belief that there is a higher force
above us who influences our life. This is not a blind force, though. It is a
person who is intelligent, powerful and loving. It is God. He does influence
our life. He intervenes. He comes not to punish or to make life difficult; he
comes into our lives to save, to give life and to share his joy. This is the
meaning of Christmas. God is with us. He is no longer different from us. He is
Immanuel.
Because of Christmas we Christians accept the New Year with serenity and
confidence. We do not believe in blind luck but in the loving Providence of
God. Whatever happens in the coming year, we know that we are in the hands of a
loving God. He guides our life. He has already given us his only Son, what more
can he not give us? That is why for those who believe in God, everything turns
out well. “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who
are called according to his purpose.” (Rom. 8:28) This is our conviction as we
face the uncertainties that the new year may bring.
If this is so, we greet the new year with thanksgiving and trust.
Thanksgiving for the year that is passing away – for all the good things that
God has given us, even for those things whose benefits we do not yet
appreciate, and trust, that the loving God is with us. Thus, we can truly say:
“I have the strength for everything through him (Jesus) who empowers me.”
(Phil. 4:13)
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