Riza Fortuna

We always make a fuss during Christmas season, and it is rightly so. This year, I found myself a lot less stressed. Aside from buying gifts ahead of time, I also realized that what is being done during Christmas which is a lot of GIVING is not something new. I have been blessed to do it all year round. Always had the opportunity to give or be a blessing to someone here and there. I also realized that giving must never be done for the sake of doing so. The gifts I give for instance are those I like myself. I take delight in them. They need not be material things too – they can be time, attention, smiles, laughter, or just mere presence.

More importantly, during Christmas we are in a period of waiting, and then of opening ourselves and letting Christ in. This is indeed the reason for the season, the coming of Christ into each one of us, in celebration of His first coming and to fulfill His desire to be one with us. I have been blessed to have this hunger to wait too, to bask in His words as I read them from the Bible in my daily prayer time, to wait in the sense that I come before Him to be filled by Him, to have more of God in me. In my imperfection, I realize that all the more I need God EVERYDAY, not just during Christmas. That I have to come before Him daily, wait on Him to bless me, be filled by Him, and share Him to others.

God is indeed good! And His love is constant and ever assuring. The fact that He sent Jesus not only during the first coming, but to us individually in our lifetime like what I experience, is proof to that. Thanks be to God for making Christmas an everyday possibility!

This is the first time I am posting something from another written source (not my own sharing or reflection). Just want to share with you today’s reflection from Word Among Us on today’s feast. And importantly, I want to greet you all especially the devotees of the Blessed Virgin Mary a Happy Feastday of the Immaculate Conception! It is such a special occasion to celebrate Mary’s conception (by her mom St. Anne) without the blemish of original sin. Indeed, she was worthy to bear Jesus. I wish that we all work to be worthy too to "bring" Jesus to those whom we meet. God bless! - Riza ===================================================================== The Immaculate Conception

If you have any experience of motherhood, you know that it takes a lot of faith. In many ways, it’s something beyond your control. Suddenly, you have a new life inside of you. You do your best to nurture that life, but you don’t know how everything is going to turn out. You do everything you can to assure that your child will be loved and supported. Still, you have to trust God for the big picture.

As we honor Mary today, let’s remember the deep faith she had, not just to be a mother but to be the Mother of God! She didn’t comprehend how she could give birth to the Messiah, but she still said yes to God’s plan. She was told she would suffer greatly because of her child, but she still obeyed. Clearly, Mary was no shrinking violet. She took care of Jesus for thirty years, endured his crucifixion and death, and stayed true to him until the end.

Mary has many things to teach us. Like her, we are called to bring Jesus into this world, and like her, we too will suffer. When we face the challenges and temptations of life in this world, we can be tempted to forget about our walk with the Lord and just go with the flow. Or we can do as Mary did and proclaim God’s greatness, recognizing that he will look after us if we remain humble and open to his word: He has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty (Luke 1:53).

Mary is more than just an idealistic example of perfect faith. She is a mother, and she wants nothing more than to bring us to her son, Jesus. Quite simply, she loves us! St. John Vianney tells us, Mary’s heart is so loving toward us that the hearts of all other mothers taken together are but a piece of ice in comparison. We can go to her, not just for our needs, but to ask her help in growing closer to the Lord. In the prayers of the rosary, we say to her, The Lord is with you! Let’s not forget Mary, this privileged insider in the heavenly court, who is already praying for each and every one of us!

Lord, thank you for your Blessed Mother! May I imitate her virtues and call upon her to help me walk with you!