Once there was a flock of ducks frantically flopping amidst a brewing storm. Apparently they were looking for some warmth and shelter. A certain farmer saw them and, moved to compassion, got out and tried to shoo the poor ducks into a warm shed, but the more he shooed, the more they panicked.

* * *

"If only they realized I'm only trying to do what's best for them," the man thought to himself. "If only I could become one of them and communicate in their own language my love and concern, then they would understand."

This, too, was the Divine Predicament.

* * *

Thus in the fullness of time God sent his Son into the world. "The Word became flesh" born of a woman. He became human to tell us that He loved us and cared for our well-being. "God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son" (Jn 3:16).

* * *

But if God so loved the world, if God redeemed us, why is there poverty, grief, hatred and wars rather than PEACE on earth.

When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem they were confronted right away by the reality of poverty. They could not find a place to stay and the only place available to them was a stable cave where animals took shelter.

* * *

A religion teacher was telling her class about the birth of baby Jesus. When she came to the part about there being no room at the inn, one boy raised his hand and said, "Well, I blame Joseph? He should have made a reservation!"

In those days there was no such thing as reservation but if you had money you could always find a place. Unfortunately, poor Joseph and Mary did not have sufficient money.

* * *

With Christ's birth the turning point was indeed reached, the crisis over. Much remains to be done before the world and our nation fully recovers. It is like a patient in the intensive care unit (ICU) who is pronounced "out of danger." He becomes restful; the temperature goes down. The crisis is over and there springs a new hope of recovery, health and happiness.

* * *

Every time we celebrate the birth of Christ, let it remind us of the birth of hope, in a strife-torn, sin-scarred, calamity-prone world. It's a joyful hope which tells us never to despair.

* * *

THE LIGHTER SIDE. Two kids were spending Christmas with their grandparents. At bedtime they knelt to say their prayers. The younger one began praying at the top of his voice, “I pray for a new bicycle, a new i-Pad, a new DVD…” His older brother was disturbed and said, “Why are you shouting your prayers? God isn’t deaf.” The younger brother replied, “No, but Grandma is!”

* * *

I never realized how bad the economy was until I spoke to Santa Claus on the phone. During our chat, I asked: “How’s Rudolph, the reindeer?”

He said, “Delicious!”