About the Speaker
Ptr. Reuel Reyes serves as pastor of Baliwag Bible Christian Church from 1985 to 1996. He is now serving as pastor of a Southern Baptist church in Cagayan de Oro.
Sermon Manuscript
Maayong buntag kaninyong tanan! Greetings from the City of Golden Frienship! Alam po ninyo, talagang very memorable ang church na ito para sa akin kasi dito ako nag-simula sa ministry. Nag-aaral pa lamang po ako noon sa Asian Theological Seminary and I would come here every weekend kasi nga ang first assignment ko was to start the Young People’s Fellowship. Hindi pa yata noon nakasali si Pastor Derick kasi nga nasa elementarya pa siya noon. I think sina Pastor Ronnie at Pastor Marlon at ang kanilang batch ang nakasama ko sa pasimula. And at that time binata pa po ako. Actually mas nauna sa akin si Emy kasi siya at si Ate Editha Jalothot ang nagpioneer ng Language School ng SEND International para turuan ng Tagalog ang mga foreign missionaries. And she also pioneered the Deaf Ministry dito sa Baliwag with the Cluttons. We also spearheaded several missions trip ni Emy among our youth noon na ang palaging chaperon ay si Ate Jurene. And through all those special missions trips, duon kami ni Emy pinagtagpo ng tadhana at si Pastor Mar Villanueva po ang namagitan para sa aking naging pamamanhikan sa Rubio clan ng Makati. When I became the senior pastor ng BBCC I began forming the elders board at sina Pastor Delfin, Pastor Jessie, Pastor Andy, Pastor Edgar at iba pang mga kalalakihan ang aking unang sinanay sa pag-lilingkod. Originally po ang ating pangalan was Baliwag Bible Christian Fellowship. Pero nuong idina-draft ko na yung ating Constitution and By-laws para sa ating application sa SEC and also sa tax exemption, minabuti nating gawing Baliwag Bible Christian Church ang ating pangalan as our proper legal identity as a church. So, from BBCF naging BBCC ang acronym.
By the way (Emy & David), naiwan po ang aming bunsong anak na si Jonathan sa Makati due to flu. Bumagsak kasi ang aming resistance ni Jonathan probably sa polution sa Manila at siguro dala na rin ng kapaguran sa very fast phased schedule and sobrang traffic sa Manila. Naku, kahit pala sa pagkain mayroon ding mahabang pila bago ka makakain ng breakfast, lunch at dinner kasi nga palaging punuan ang mga restaurants! Mabuti na lang at hindi lumala ang lagay ni David otherwise dalawa lang kami ni Emy ngayon.
Ewan ko kung may naaalala pa si David kasi tumira din kami sa baba at ang grounds ng BBCC ang unang naging playground ni David. Talagang ang bilis ng panahon ano, kasi nga ang karamihan sa inyo na katulad ni David na babies pa noon, ngayo’y aktibo na rin sa paglilingkod sa Panginoon. Well, to all the leaders and volunteers sa ministeryo ng BBCC, keep up the good work mga kapatid! Magpatuloy lang kayo at huwag susuko – as long as we have breath, let us all continue serving the Lord faithfully – Amen? Ang mahalaga sa lahat mga kapatid is to finish well.
Siya nga po pala, before anything else, lest I forget, on behalf of my family e gusto ko pong ipahabol ang pagbati ng “a joyous and blessed Christmas and a grace-filled New Year!” sa inyong lahat. We are really very happy to be back this morning and see all of you again para personal na makapagpasalamat sa inyong faithful partnership and prayerful support sa aming family and ministry.
Just to give you a quick update, bukod po sa aming tinutulungang 350+ indigent kids at sa aming outreaches sa Landless and Urban Poor, I’m also part of a missions facilitating team. Mobilizers po kami in reaching the 13 unreached Muslim tribes sa Mindanao. Right now we are helping missionaries that are reaching the Tausog and Kalibugan tribes sa Zamboanga as well as the Southern Sama people sa Tawi-tawi. Besides these, I’m also a sports chaplain in reaching coaches at ang mga atleta sa Cagayan de Oro. Actually, may programa din ako na “Puso at Lakas, Sports sa Pinas” sa New J radio station, yung estasyon ng FEBC sa CDO.
After being the Prefect of Discipline at Guidance Counseor ng isang Chinese school sa CDO mas full-blast na ngayon ang aming pag-assist sa isang Southern Baptist Church na ang karamihan ng mga miyembro ay mahihirap. Kaya nga po yung building project namin para itaas ang sanctuary after ng bagyong Sendong ay hindi pa rin natatapos hanggang sa ngayon kasi nga what we’re doing, we’ll sell our things at ang amount na aming ma-ipon through this ay ipangbibili namin ng mga building materials at ang mga kalalakihan sa church ang magba-bayanihan sa pagtatayo at pagpapanday o pagkakarpintero.
So, please continue to pray for good health and extra-measure of provision and safety para sa aming pamilya, ministry at pagmi-mission. Once again, maraming-maraming salamat po sa inyong faithful prayerful support and partnership sa aming pamilya.
Well, bukod po sa naging junior recital ni David sa UST last Dec. 18, nag-request din ang aking bunsong kapatid from Australia na cancer survivor na magmeet kami kasi nga matagal-tagal na din kaming hindi nagkikita. If my memory doesn’t fail me, seven years ago namin siyang huling nakita and it was also seven years ago when we last visited you as a family. So, beside sa kapatid kong si Ruthie, nag-extend kami sa aming stay dito sa Luzon para maka-fellowship din kayo ulit kasi nga matagal-tagal na din tayong hindi nagkita!
Ang bunso kong kapatid from Australia na si Ruthie ay ipinanganak po sa bisperas ng Pasko at naalala ko noong maliliit pa kami na after opening her birthday and Christmas gifts ay nasabi niya na, “Talagang napakasarap at napakasaya pala ng Pasko.” Sana raw Pasko araw-araw, na bigla niyang sinundan ng katanungan na, “Why can’t we have Christmas everyday?”
“Why can’t we have Christmas everyday?” Well, mga kapatid, why not, di ba kasi nga para sa isang tunay na mananampalataya, dapat palaging Pasko kasi kung tutuusin ay iyon ang kahulugan ng pangalan ng Mesias: “Emannuel” meaning “God with us.” Truly Christmas has been a wonderful word hindi lamang po para sa mga bata kundi kahit maging sa mga matatanda din – di po ba?
Actually, to many people around the world, Christmas is the most thrilling season of the year kasi nga at the very thought of it hearts beat faster, eyes sparkle and the spirit is lifted. Mahirap po talagang ma-imagine ang Pasko without colorful lights na nagniningning o kumukuti-kutitap, without delicious foods, new clothes or new shoes, new toys, without parties or merrymaking – kasi nga buhat pa nang pagkabata we have known Christmas to be a day of fun and festivities na it is almost impossible to imagine a mirthless or very sad Christmas.
Mga mahal kong kapatid, kumusta ba ang inyong naging selebrasyon sa Pasko? Kasi po, there is a real danger na in all the busy activities dahil nga sa mga kasayahan or different happenings sa panahon ng Kapaskuhan, too many people would miss the real essence and true meaning of Christmas dahil some people including even Christians become greedy people sa panahon ng Kapaskuhan.
That is why I would like us to tackle the 10th Commandment this morning bilang pagpapatuloy sa inyong serye sa Sampung Utos. I would like us to meditate upon the 10th Commandment, yuon pong ika-sampung utos ng Dios as we revisit the proper celebration of Christmas and also as we celebrate the New Year as well.
Alam ba po ninyo na kung masusunod lamang natin ang ika-sampung utos ng Dios, hindi na natin kakailanganin pa ang una hanggang ika-siyam na utos! Basahin natin ang sinasabi sa Exodo 20:17 –
Huwag mong iimbutin ang bahay ng iyong kapwa, ni ang asawa ng iyong kapwa, ni ang kanyang alilang lalaki o babae, ni ang kanyang baka o asno, o anumang pag-aari ng iyong kapwa.
Alam po ninyo, kung masusunod lamang nang lahat ang utos na ito e the Sabbath o ang araw ng pananambahan would really be for rest and worship at hindi additional time para mag-sideline or to strategize some more para mas kumita pa for the following week.
And if we will not really covet, hindi tayo maiinggit sa ibang pamilya kundi ibayo pa nating re-respituhin at paparangalan ang ating mga magulang at kapamilya kasi nga minsan mas marami pang gig ang barkada kaysa sa pamilya during Christmas time and even sa New Year’s celebration.
Bukod po dito alam ba po ninyo na dahil sa pagka-imbut o pagka-inggit, marami ang nakakapag-commit ng murder hindi lamang sa gawa kasi nga mas madalas mas nagagawa ito sa isip. Kasi nga kung sobra talaga ang galit sa ibang tao, nag-wi-wish ang iba na mamatay na lang sana yung taong kinai-inisan nila!
Covetousness also feeds lust which plunges its victims into adultery or impels the mind to scheme in order to steal from another. Covetousness also endangers mutual trust that would often cause some to lie in order to gain money, power, prestige or even praise.
Mga kapatid, covetousness makes it impossible to love God and our neighbors as ourselves na actually siyang pinaka-diwa ng Kapaskuhan pero, sad to say, natatabunan na ng makamundong pamamaraan.
The Hebrew word for covetousness means “desire.” Now, does this mean na our desire is wrong? Hindi po lahat ng desire is totally wrong because we also have God-given desires that are very legitimate. For example, we have that holy ambition to make our lives count for our Lord and His Kingdom. Ang isa pong application nito is to seek good education or gainful employment which would provide for our family and ministry as well. Of course, para sa lahat ng mga magulang, we would want God’s very best for our children, di po ba?
The translators of the Greek Old Testament na Septuagint used the term meaning “to lust” or “to long for with passion.” Tumpak po ang Tagalog word na “pagnanasa.” And this would define coveting as having ardent desire for something or someone. Another term for this is “greed” o kasakiman. Therefore, coveting is both strong desire and wrong desire.
Mga kapatid, covetousness often occurs when our lust for what we do not have outweighs gratitude for what we do have kasi nga po if we set our strong desire on someone or something, we are really in the initial stage of acquisition. Parehas ito sa nagiging attitude ng maraming politiko – to get what they desire by hook or by crook which is really the idea inherent in the term “desire” when you use the word “covet” that involves forming a plan ready to put in motion as soon as the opportunity arises para lamang mangurakot o makapandaya.
We have a classic example of this in the Old Testament na we read in Joshua chap. 7 patungkol sa pagkuha ng war spoil. Kababalik lang po ng mga Amerikano sa Pilipinas ng Balangiga Bells na naging malaking issue in our long history. Well, noong panahon nina Joshua, matinding ipinagbawal ng Panginoon ang pagkuha ng anumang spoil from Jericho. Pero hindi napigilan ni Achan ang kanyang pagnanasa.
Basahin natin ang naging explanation ni Achan sa Joshua 7:21 – “When I saw among the spoils a beautiful Babylonian garment, two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them…” Sa Good News version it is rendered this way: “I wanted them so much that I took them.” Noong una pinagmamasdan lamang niya ang mga ito. Pero noong kalaunan, pinagnasaan na niya ang mga ito na humantong sa kanyang naging kasalanan.
Mga kapatid, sinasaad sa ika-sampung utos ang commandment patungkol sa prohibisyon sa pag-covet o pag-imbot sa possession o pag-aari ng iba. Ang isang issue na ipinanalangin sa Jesus Reigns just recently ay ang gustong ipapasa ng mga Kongresista na SOGIE Bill na gustong-gusto ng LGBTQ group na kung hindi dahil sa naging argumento sa Martial Law sa Mindanao at pinagtatalunan na budget for next year ay naipasa na din sana ito sa Senado. At bukod sa SOGIE Bill, that includes same sex marriage e nariyan din yung dissolution of marriage na papunta sa Divorce Law.
Actually these bills give license to any form of fornication and adultery dahil,kung minsan, hindi lamang sa 3rd party sa pagitan ng mag-asawa ang nagiging pagkasira ng marriage sa panahong ito. It’s really very shocking to learn na even among Christians nangyayari na rin ang kasuklam-suklam na bagay na sumisira sa ating lipunan. Nandiyan ang marinig mo ang isang pastor na umiwan sa asawa at kanyang mga anak kasi sumama hindi sa ibang babae kundi sa isang elder ng kanilang church!
Mga kapatid, the tenth commandment actually looks beyond the deed to the very passion itself, kasi nga the condition of the heart is the most critical of all. At dahil alam na alam ito ng movie industry at advertisement industry, we are so bombarded with enticing commercials at sari-saring mga pelikula at telenovela sa showbusiness na hindi lamang tuma-target sa isipan ng kahit sino kundi sa puso ng sinuman. Therefore, how can we protect our hearts especially in a very sex-graphic and too much consumer-oriented world that we live in? Mga kapatid, gaya nga ng nasabi ko na kanina,
covetousness only occurs when desire for what we do not have exceeds our gratitude (o pagpapasalamat) for (all the things that) what we do have.
Ano po ang sabi sa Prov. 4:23? “Keep or guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.” Hindi ko po alam kung nakukuntento kayo sa lahat ng mga regalo o bonuses na inyong natanggap this Christmas. Kasi nga minsan sumasagi sa isipan ng marami ang mga katanungan na, “Buti pa sila, nakatanggap ng 14th month pay” o di kaya naman, “Mabuti pa si gayon nakapamasyal sa ibang bansa ngayong Kapaskuhan.” O baka naman ang pinagpuputok ng iyong butsi ay, “Ito lang, wala na bang iba? Bakit ganito lamang ang aking natanggap na regalo na kung hindi man mukhang second hand, parang fake pa!”
Sa kabilang banda naman, marami din ang nauuwi lamang sa pagho-hoard ng sangkaterbang mga bagay-bagay na halos wala nang mapaglagyan sa cabinet o maging sa refrigerator kasi nga napakaraming sale sa panahon ng Kapaskuhan or even year-end sale katulad ng 50% or even 70% off or “buy one take one” hindi lamang sa Divisoria kundi maging sa lahat ng malls at department stores.
Meron pong isang istorya na mababasa natin sa Luke 12:13-21. A certain rich man’s land produced bumper crops more than his existing barns could hold. Ano kaya ang naging reaksiyon ng mamang ito na ubod ng yaman? Basahin natin ang sinabi niya sa Lucas 12:18-19 – “Kaya sinabi niya, ‘Ganito ang gagawin ko: Gigibain ko ang aking mga kamalig, at magtatayo ako ng mas malalaki. At doon ko ilalagay ang aking ani at iba pang ari-arian. At sasabihin ko sa sarili: Marami ka nang tinipong mabubuting bagay para sa maraming taon. Magpakasarap ka na sa buhay – kumain, uminom at magpakaligaya!”
Makikita po natin dito ang isang classic na covetor kasi nga po imbis na gamitin niya ang kanyang sobra-sobrang ani para makatulong sa iba lalo na sa mga naghihirap at nagugutom, gumawa lamang siya ng mas malaking mga bodega to keep everything only to himself and only for himself. Ano ba po ang naging tugon ng Panginoon sa ganitong klaseng tao? Basahin natin ang Luke 12:20-21 – “Ngunit sinabi sa kanya ng Dios, ‘Hangal! Sa gabi ring ito’y hihingin ko sa iyo ang buhay mo. Sino ngayon ang makikinabang sa inihanda mo para sa iyong sarili?’ Ito ang mangyayari sa sinumang nagtitipon ng mga bagay para sa sarili, ngunit dukha naman sa paningin ng Dios.”
Mga kapatid, what was it that so indelibly marked this very rich man as foolish? Yes, he was so rich in material things that only pass away pero he was so poverty stricken toward God and his fellowmen. Ang naging problema niya, mga kapatid, he could not distinguish the passing from the permanent. And the only antidote for this is the often overlooked remedy called gratitude at pagkakawang-gawa sa iba. Kasi nga po, coveting occurs when our desire for more and bigger things of this world outweighs our thankfulness for God’s provision as well as sharing our blessings to others as well.
If we look at the very first story of man, by any standard, Adam and Eve had it all. Bakit nga ba pinakahuling ginawa ang tao? Ginawa ng Dios ang lahat ng bagay sa mundo bago ang tao nang sa gayon ay wala nang hahanapin pang iba sina Adan at Eva kasi nga everything was provided for them – everything that they need were met by God.
Narinig na ba ninyo ang sagot ng mga bilyonaryo sa tanong na, “How much is enough?” Their one-word response symbolizes covetousness. Ano nga ba po yung one word answer ng mga bilyonarya sa katanungan na “How much is enough” “M-o-r-e!” Parehas sa nagiging attitude ng maraming milyonaryo at bilyonaryo, the devil introduced Eve and Adam to ingratitude and discontentment. You see, mga kapatid, food was really very abundant. Except for one tree, they enjoyed a full run of the orchard, the forest and the farm. Ang ginawa lamang ni ‘Taning was just to convince Eve that what God had provided was inadequate. Na there was more, so much more to be had just for the taking and why be content with less kung mayroon pa namang iba? Let’s read Gen. 3:6 – “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate.”
Mga kapatid, sina Eba at Adan ang naging pinaka-unang biktima ng greediness. Because we are ungrateful for and discontented with what we have, Satan appeals to our natural love for pleasure, possessions, position and pride – yuong apat na “P” ang nagtutulak sa sinuman to covet. Alam ba po ninyo na the history of war is the history of covetousness because of discontent. Yun po ang ginawa ng Germany at Japan di ba kaya nga may naging matinding World War at puwedeng-puwede pong mangyari ulit ang another World War na puwedeng humantong sa World War 3 or or even World War 4 ng dahil lamang sa mga maliliit na isla o kadagatan na gustong agawin ng China.
Basahin natin ang sinasabi sa 1 John 2:15-17 – “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world – the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
Nabanggit ko na po yung naging temptation ni ‘Taning kina Eba at Adan. Sa naging temptation naman ni ‘Taning sa Panginoong Jesus, matagumpay na naipakita ng Panginoong Jesus na what we covet will not last, will not satisfy and will not promote spirituality and security because it’s all temporal and not eternal.
Basahin po natin ang Phil. 2:5-7 – “Ang dapat ninyong maging damdamin ay tulad ng kay Cristo Jesus: na bagamat siya ay nasa mismong likas ng pagiging Dios, hindi niya pilit na pinanghawakan ang pagiging kapantay ng Dios; bagkus ay kusa niyang hinubad ang lahat ng ito, at kinuha ang kalikasan ng isang alipin nang siya’y magkatawang-tao.” Sabi po ng verse 7 na “he made himself of no reputation” na “he emptied himself.” On that first Christmas day, he took off his robe of glory, as it were, and took the form of a servant. Of all the seasons of the year, Christmas and the New Year will rank as the merriest and happiest of all, as far as many people are concerned.
But it is very ironic indeed, that from the point of view of God and his Word, the celebration of Christmas and the New Year may rank as the most tragic celebration of all. It is not really so much on the commercialization of the season, nor the unholy exploitation of sacred themes in the interest of storekeepers’ profits, nor the promotions of outward trappings and yuletide customs. Rather, the tragedy of Christmas on the modern scene is the virtual denial of the real meaning of Christmas, by unwittingly giving the wrong emphasis in our celebration. The tragedy of Christmas is that we are doing exactly the opposite in our celebration. Instead of emptying, we are so busy filling ourselves with so many things. But the message of Christmas is not of filling but of emptying, for Christ himself emptied himself. On that first Christmas day, when the Word became flesh, Christ put off his robe of glory and emptied himself, pouring out, as it were, all of his love up to the very last drop.
Mga kapatid, how many of you are willing to empty yourselves hindi lamang sa pagtatapos ng taong ito kundi maging sa darating na bagong taon? How many of you would be willing enough to deny yourselves of some good things so that those who have less may have a little more? Alam po ninyo, if we’ll only have the heart of Christ, we’ll be able to celebrate Christmas the whole year round!
You see mga kapatid, Christmas is not for taking but for giving, not for becoming rich but becoming poor, not for getting but for sharing, not for filling but for emptying. Which will it be for us sa coming year mga kapatid – giving or grabbing? What are we willing to sacrifice so that others may also have? Are we overflowing with thankfulness o puno tayo ng panghihinayang sa magtatapos na taong ito? Ano po ang ating handang i-sakripisyo para sa Panginoon hindi lamang sa mga nalalabi pang araw ng taong ito kundi sa buong isang taon ng 2019?
Basahin po natin ang 2 Cor. 8:9 – “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” The aorist tense of the verb in the phrase, “he became poor,” suggests that it is the fact of the incarnation rather than the conditions under which he was born that is being referred to in this verse.
In the light of all these, mga kapatid, we may conclude therefore that the spirit of the first Christmas day is giving – nothing more, nothing less, nothing else! And in that same manner, we can celebrate Christmas every day. For when the Lord Jesus gave himself in the incarnation it did not end on that first Christmas day. When God gave us his grace and love and mercy on that first Christmas day, it did not end there, but continued day after day, and week after week and month after month and year after year and decade after decade and century after century, even up to this very moment at kahit sa darating pang panahon! As far as God is concerned, his Christmas gifts for us are not only once a year but every day of the year – the whole year round. And following this example we can have Christmas every day. We can celebrate Christmas the whole year round, by exercising the grace of giving for “Christmas is giving and giving is Christmas” which is directly the opposite sa ipinagbabawal sa ika-sampung utos ng Dios.
Therefore we should be generous mga minamahal kong kapatid with regards to our giving para maiwasan nating maimbot o mainggit sa kung ano ang mayroon ang iba. And by the way, huwag na huwag ninyong kakaligtaan na sa tuwing ipinagkakaloob natin ang ating mga ikapu, hindi tayo kundi ang Panginoong Dios mismo ang nagkakaloob! Kaya nga ganoon na lamang ang naging matinding galit ng Dios sa Malachi dahil pinag-imbotan ng bayan ng Dios ang pinakamaliit na porsiyento – ang 10% sa ating kita na kung tutuusin ay hindi natin talaga pag-aari.
Alam po ninyo, minsan ito na rin ang pinaka-dahilan kung bakit may malaking kakulangan sa gawain ng Panginoon. Remember this, mga kapatid, we only begin giving to the Lord after and only after we have given our tithes through what we call offerings. Hindi ko po alam kung ipinagpapatuloy pa rin ninyo yung sinimulan kong sacrificial offering during Communion. My dearly beloved, ito lamang ang tanging paraan na ipinagkaloob ng Dios para we won’t ever covet, maimbot o mainggit sa kung ano ang mayroon ang iba.
In closing, basahin po natin ang naging testimony ni Apostol Pablo sa Acts 20:33-35 – “I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.'”
Kaya nga po, mahal na mga kapatid, let us be generous in our giving so that we may prevent ourselves from coveting. This way we may also celebrate Christmas the whole year round because “Christmas is giving – and giving is Christmas.” Kasi nga, mga minamahal kong kapatid, you can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving. Yun po ang pinaka-dahilan na pinagkaloob ng Panginoong Jesus ang kanyang pinaka-lahat para patunayan ang dakila ning pag-ibig sa atin. Isa pong mapagpalang Pasko and a more grace-filled and Christ-centered New Year sa inyong lahat.
Manalangin po tayo, let us pray: Our most gracious Lord, truly it is really difficult to imagine Christmas na walang mga masasarap na pagkain, walang mga palamuti at nag-gagandahang mga dekorasyon, without lights, gifts, parties and happenings kasi nga simula pa ng aming pagkabata, we have known Christmas to be a day of so much fun and festivities. Pero we would want to momentarily pause at this very moment so we could focus on the simple and yet real meaning of Christmas na maaaring nakakaligtaan na ng marami. Kung tutuusin po, alam na naman naming lahat itong aming mga pinagbulayan sa inyong Salita. Therefore, at this point, we would want to recall all the old familiar hymns na ibayong magpapa-alala sa amin sa pinaka-dakilang milagro na naganap sa buong kasaysayan – when you who had made all things, emptied yourself in order to come one night as a babe to lie in a manger. Before such mystery we gather in overflowing thankfulness as we remember with deep gratitude all the love, favor and grace at maging sa lahat ng inyong naging paraan sa pagbuhos sa amin sa lahat ng pagpapala at biyaya na aming natanggap at naranasan throughout this year. And as we continue to celebrate you even in the coming new year, may the loving kindness of Christmas ever abide in our hearts, nang sa gayon we won’t spend Christmas but keep it para ito’y ibayo pang magpatuloy, so that we may be kept in its hope with the strong conviction na you are the only way by which there may be peace on earth and goodwill among men. In the name of Jesus, who came to save his people from their sins, even in that lovely name we pray, Amen.
Treasuring Christ PH 