same way with us?  

Our faith also reminds us with realism that in this life, sin and its consequences will continue to plague each one of us and our societies as well. The difficulties, the hardships, the violence will to a greater or less extent continue.

The fact that our culture has decidedly and strategically debarred the only person who can heal it, makes things gravely worse. Stricter laws, more security, more news articles. perhaps they will have some effect; but, the only truly effective response is a change of heart. Any solution that does not have Christ in the center, will be ultimately ineffective.

Thus, true change is possible. Still, we need to accept the fact that we can't do it on our own. We need Christ, and we need to allow him to touch our hearts and transform our lives each day more. It is through our conversion, our decision to forgive and love those around, our decision to serve the Church, that our society will begin to improve and be effectively transformed.

The Christmas Joy

As a final point, I would like to make a mention of how the mysteries of Faith that we celebrate this Christmas also shed light on what we have been saying. While, the coming of the Lord is a light of infinite purity and density, yet still one that is surrounded by darkness.

Our Lord knows all to well of man's condition; he looks upon his creation with sorrow as he witnesses our fragility, sin, and violence. Let us not forget that little time after his birth, our newborn savior and his family were forced to flee the murderous ambition of Herod.

The Christmas joy is not a naïve joy. It is, rather, a joy in which evil is conquered by love, hate with forgiveness, selfishness with self-giving, pride with humility. This is the path that Christ has come to teach us, this is the reason for the season. 

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