“I am the Lord’s servant.

Let it be with me just as you have said” Luke 1:38

The season of Christmas is a point in time that we rejoice the extraordinary and incredible joy of Jesus. Darien McCoy wrote, “Joy isn’t just about big celebrations but about finding it in the little everyday moments.”  For me, this starts with personal and group interactions inside our family and with loved ones. In a world where people communicate more using their electronic devices, social media and even AI, we have to have that sense of personal connectivity with families and loved ones. This is the very reason why God took on flesh, through Jesus Christ, who is the perfect imprint and incarnation of God. God wanted to be in direct communication to all of us. Christmas is indeed a time to meditate over our human relationships with one another. 

The season of Christmas is also a time of deep reflection of our Christian values and beliefs. God’s will is our growing up into the full stature of Christ, becoming capable of partnering with God in bringing God’s love and peace to fruition on Earth. This is news worth celebrating during Christmas. This is news worth rejoicing over. This is the knowledge and the truth that we have the ability to make God present, here and now. God rejoices every time we act for God’s love and peace.

God would like the chance to be joyful with all of Creation. If we take that as a possibility, we have to ask ourselves: what makes God joyful? So, the next time you set aside your own preferences and your own self-interests, acting with love, peace and kindness, remember that you are making God joyful. Every act and offering of your heart, you are saying to God, “Glory to God in heaven, and on earth peace among those whom God favors!” (Luke 2:1) 

And God hears you. 

Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year! 
The Venerable Louie Engnan