Will Christmas be merry?

Malls, night markets, and shopping centers appear to be a throwback to the pre-COVID era. We've seen a swarm of people flocking to these areas to do their Christmas shopping early. And we expect this scenario to continue in the coming days or weeks as the country opens up its economy at the end of the quarter. This is leading up to the year's longest and supposedly merriest celebration, Christmas. So, in order to find out an important answer to the question, will our Christmas be joyous this year?

However, the question conjures up an image of a holiday celebration in which families, friends, relatives, and loved ones congregate in large groups, not only in homes but also in public places such as parks, to enjoy the display of lights, firecrackers, dining out, parties, and a variety of other joyous activities.

Unlike last year, we have a large number of people who have been vaccinated. Our young children's vaccinations have already begun. Is this now a guarantee that we will have a more joyous Christmas this year? There are still a significant number of people who have not been immunized. They are still unwilling to be vaccinated, whether because they are afraid or for other reasons.

Christmas isn't just a day; it's a state of mind, and so is our attitude toward the holiday season. After all, we can always contend that Christmas is a state of mind rather than a time or season. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be abundant in mercy, is to have the true Christmas spirit. We will never be truly happy unless we can break free from the usual, temporal feelings that the season and the material world bring.

We are extremely fortunate to still be alive and will continue to celebrate the holiday season. We are still blessed, more than ever, to receive the message of goodness and love from the One who brings the reason for the celebration.

We can't ask for anything more because we have health that others don't. We are still grateful for the presence of our loved ones and enjoy their company.

Christmas is and will continue to be merry because we can still celebrate life. Life that brings happiness not only to oneself but also to others. The life that we should live in order to bring happiness to others who are going through a hard time. Christmas, indeed, brings hope. Its symbolism will never change, just as the love it brings will never change, because its source is Jesus Christ himself.

Christmas is a spiritual tonic. It causes us to consider others rather than ourselves. It focuses our attention on giving. And, as we approach the Christmas season, our goal is to provide hope for everyone, rather than just the happiness that the material world can provide. It's the kind of hope that propels us forward to keep celebrating and appreciating life to the fullest.

May the Christmas spirit of love and hope fill our homes and lives long after the tree is taken down and the lights are turned off for another year.