Nine consecutive nights of Simbang Gabi and the Christmas Eve mass offer rich reflection on the birth of Jesus. The Holy Family in plaster, cloth, grass and wood stands on one side, present but not paramount. Which brings us to the third element of a holy family depicted in the Belen: God is worshipped at the center, lying where hungry beasts feed. What comfort can the sleeping St. Joseph and the idyllic Belen scene give our suffering and bereaved Filipino brethren? With God’s grace and the goodwill and grind of all citizens, we can build our nation into a Belen of openness, justice and generosity for every Filipino.

Source: Manila Times December 25, 2017 15:33 UTC