Advent Message 2015

Dear Friends,

No matter where you are in the world, you know that Christmas is just days away. Christmas has become a “celebration” with an obsession on feasting and presents. Seduced by the parties and caroling, many of us will wake up on Boxing Day with a certain sense of emptiness and disillusionment because “X-mas” is over at least for another year.

In the liturgical calendar, there are two seasons where the Church urges us to spend time in reflection on our personal covenantal relationship with God. We often heed the call to a renewal of our faith through repentance during Lent whereas the same call to a more profound relationship is often lost in the festivities of Christmas. Advent like Lent is a time for us to ponder the great gift that God, our Father has given to us and the great sacrifice that Jesus has made to become man and live amongst us.

We often do well to abstain, fast and spend time in reflection and prayers during Lent. We should similarly try to do so during Advent as we celebrate the beginning of the great reality of our salvation. Advent is a special time for us to pray and contemplate with Mary as we prepare for Jesus to be born into our hearts. To celebrate well we must prepare well. To share Jesus with others we must first have Jesus aglow within us. Let us give the gift of Jesus to others, a gift far more valuable than any that can be purchased at the stores this season. If we take Christ out of Christmas, then it becomes “X-mas” another pagan holiday and we are bound to feel the emptiness in our lives.

Nine years ago, my wife Priscilla and I with a few of our children and church friends decided to go to Cambodia to bring the Joy of Advent to some impoverished children following the example of Mary who was the first to bring Jesus, the Good News to the world. The unconditional acceptance and love of the “poor” so moved us that our annual family holiday is now spent in Cambodia. The feeling of happiness when we reach out to share Christ with others or what I call the “Joy of Service” cannot ever be fully described, it can only be experienced. The joy that I was vainly searching for in material things in my youth, I discovered in Jesus and now every day is Christmas.

This Advent as we celebrate Christmas with our loved ones, let us spare a thought for the millions who are victims of religious persecution especially the Christians in Syria and Iraq. Today in Islamic Middle East with the establishment of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), Christians suffer persecution we can scarcely imagine. Those who were lucky enough to flee their homes before being trapped are housed in deplorable conditions in refugee camps with little hope for the future. What has been your response to acts of violence against Christians? Let us reflect on how we as individuals, organizations and an international family of Catholic  Physicians can respond to this tragedy. I hope that this Advent, the Holy Spirit will inspire all of us to try to do our part to eradicate this scourge afflicting modern day society. No act is too small or meaningless. You can begin to change the world by restoring the dignity to one single violated individual. In Matt 25:40, Christ exhorts each and every one of us to bring the Good News to those who are suffering, “Whatever you do to the least of my sisters and brothers, you do it to me”.

I would like to conclude this message with a prayer. Our loving Father, open our ears to hear and our eyes to see your quiet presence in our lives. Shape our lives with your transforming love so that we may be bearers of your Good News in our world. As we await your coming in Glory during this Advent period, keep us vigilant and faithful knowing that you are with us always. We make this prayer in the name of Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, Amen.

May the peace and joy of the new born Christ be with you and your love ones this Christmas and always.

Yours in Christ,                                                                                                                             John