Christmas is an ideal event to ponder upon the self-giving of the Son of God for the world, writes Fr Marnie. So it is a time to ponder our call in life, our generosity to let others see in us "The Emmanuel", God with us bringing peace, love and joy for others. As we respond to the call, time is needed to make our decision mature, ready to make sacrifices and gain generosity of heart.

Nehru Mervin was an attractive child. He is the third among the eight children in the family. Since childhood, he had always dreamt to wear the priestly robe. He was wondering why or where did he get the idea. One thing for sure he belong to a very loving Catholic family.

Christmas time

As years went by, he was always asked: What do you want to be when you grow up? He always answered, "I want to be in a white-collar profession or becoming a priest". Young as he was, Nehru Mervin or NM together with his family had been going to church everyday for Misa de Gallo (dawn masses) a nine-day novena masses for Christmas. They walked approximately two kilometers from their home to the parish church early morning when the cool and misty wind of December creeps in their place. They can feel the morning breeze that fills them with relief. They can hear the rustle of the grasses and trees. They are filled with thanksgiving and marvel at the beauty of Gods creation all around them.

NM always remembered Christmas, as a time of family reunion, visiting relatives and friends, receiving gifts from the elders. Christmas for Nehru Mervin is a time of generosity, of giving oneself, sharing with others and developing the sense of compassion by reaching-out to others. Christmas for him means trying to be available when one is needed by the people who are desperate in life giving them hope in their restlessness.

One dawn morning when they were walking, the mother of Nehru Mervin was just amazed with the questions, "Mama, why are we getting-up early and walking this long distance coming to the church? It is also possible to do this on a late afternoon? Why Misa de Gallo?" The mother smiled while answering the questions with delight. "My son it has been many years since our great grand parents also did so, you can find in this a real meaning. You see, we got up early to give priority to Jesus in our lives. He is our brother, our friend who is coming with us, our God with us. It is like when our loved ones come to our house, we prepare ourselves well ahead of time for the encounter, to be well ready and have time to be together and enjoy each other’s presence.” NM kept asking questions, "Why do we go that far walking towards that church? Can we just wait for our priest to come to our village chapel once a year during our fiesta?” The mother obviously with delight answers: "My son, in life’s endeavor preparation is not just a single-deal. It requires a series of moments preparing whole-heartedly ourselves for Jesus. NM nodded and thought intensely about what she might have meant.

Since then, he became interested in attending the Christmas midnight mass with the family. NM was amazed with the people inside the church, there were elderly people, children, youth, people of all walks of life singing Gloria in Exelsis Deo (Glory to God in the Highest) while a miniature angel was descending from the church ceiling to a beautifully decorated crib at the corner of the church. For him, the dramatization of the Mystery of Incarnation made him realize with the help of the homily of the missionary priest that salvation offered by Jesus is for all the people not only those who belong to the church.

Night of peace

As they went home for the Noche Buena, the family gathered around the table with sumptuous foods celebrating the birth of the Savior. It is the day of rejoicing because, Nehru Mervin’s father explained, God is with us. Jesus was born poor in a human family. The Son of God experienced suffering and what made him great is the humility and obedience to the Father. The Incarnation of the Son of God shows God’s love for humankind and teaches us that the world is a better place to live-in. This goodness cannot remain hidden. He is calling us all to encourage all nations to build peace, to know Him and to live in His presence. Let us all bring His message to the world that reconciliation is possible, freeing all peoples from oppression.

Getting involved

When Nehru Mervin returned to school after the Christmas holiday, for a week he would always see his fellow students in costume reenacting the nativity scene and carrying a small babe with the company of the three kings would visit every classroom. When the teachers announced that Jesus will be coming to their classroom, he jumped with joy. This happened when he was in grade three.

As he looked and prayed, a desire slowly fills the fibers of his soul. He prayed, "Jesus give me a chance to bring you to others in the future, so that they too may be happy in your presence." As he kissed the infant Jesus, he thought that if there was someone who would be enthusiastic enough to carry Jesus to all the peoples and to the world, he could be one.

Since then, he grew in faith day-by-day until he entered in the university, finished his studies successfully with the degree in Bachelor of Arts in Economics. He landed a good job and became an active member in one of the catholic charismatic groups in the city were he was working.

It was a desire in his heart to bring Jesus wherever he goes. He wanted to share the ideals of peace, joy, love, humility with his colleagues in the work place, with friends and even with total strangers visiting his office. He felt much attracted when he met a young missionary priest from Africa, an example of missionary vocation, always wearing a smile, humble and with a listening heart.

He was invited for a week-long search-in in a religious congregation. With the counsel of the vocation director, he prayed unceasingly to God to lead him. As time progressed, thoughts stirred-up. "Is this really what God wants of me? To be a missionary? The wonderful memories of Christmas in his childhood flashed back to him. He realized that if his missionary vocation was true and authentic, God will make him an instrument to bring the message of life in the world. He realized that surely God works in such mysterious ways that he could not fathom.

He entered the seminary in obedience to the will of God. He was ordained as a priest and happily serving in a parish with people economically deprived.

Vocation is a call to life. It has series of events daily. We need to be attentive to the call of God to be faithful. To know and to recognize Jesus, one must be like an apostle to bring Christmas into the lives of others proclaiming total freedom, reconciliation and the year of the grace of the Lord. This requires a humble heart, availability and openness of self to be transformed by God’s grace.

To live an ideal Christian life, the spirit of Christmas must be incarnated into our lives. We are destined to give love, to forgive, to trust in the Lord and most of all praying unceasingly placing Jesus at the center of our lives.<WM