21/12/2025
God’s will, God’s way, God’s time
By Fr Jerry M. Orbos, SVD
The story is told about a little boy who looked worried when he came home from school. When asked by his Dad why, he said: “We have a Christmas play tomorrow, and I am supposed to be Joseph, and I am not good at speaking.” His Dad said: “Don’t worry son. Joseph is the silent one, the obedient one. He has no speaking part.”
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In today’s Gospel (Mt. 1: 18-24), we hear how Joseph accepted his difficult role to become the foster father of Jesus. He could not understand, but he listened, trusted, and obeyed. Indeed, there are many things we, too, do not understand in life, but like Joseph, we listen, trust, and obey, because of love.
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Let us learn from St. Joseph “LTO”.
LISTEN. St. Joseph listened to what God was telling him, not to what people were talking about him. We have to tone down the noise of the world and listen to the sound of silence, the voice of God in the silence.
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TRUST. Trusting is letting go of the steering wheel and letting God do the driving. It is about humbling ourselves to someone we believe in. Let it be joyful trusting that is open to whatever delays, setbacks, and surprises! “Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3, 5)
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OBEY. In everything that happens, or does not happen, there is a reason, and there is a mission. When we obey, we are set free from our narrow, negative, and selfish mindsets, and we become a better (not bitter!) person.
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If Joseph and Mary were rich and powerful, would they have obeyed? Power and money can make us think that we can “fix” anything and anyone, even God. Money can make us feel proud and entitled, and even make us believe that we are greater gods than the rest of the “ordinary people” around us. Money can corrupt our thinking, our character and our very soul. Money has been, and still is, one of the most effective tools of the evil one.
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Aside from the traffic, a lot of people get stressed during the Christmas season because they have to organize the gift-giving, the noche buena meal, the parties, and a thousand and one things to get done, and get over with. Actually, you can do away with all these, and its still Christmas! Maybe you don’t have to organize or do so much. Christmas is not so much about doing as being—being prayerful, being humble, being cheerful, being kind and being truly present.
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Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year,” but it may also be the saddest time of the year, especially for the poor and the needy in the face of all the extravagance flaunted before their eyes. God is with us, especially in the last, the lost, and the least this Christmas. Let us not be blind, or pretend to be blind, or just look away.
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Christmas is about cheers, amidst our fears and tears. The greatest story ever told is about a God who so loved the world that He sent His only Son (Jn. 3, 16) to live among men. If God loves us that much, then we should let go of our fears and tears. If God loves us, then we should love Him in return. And if God loves us, it means that we are loved, that we are loveable, that we should love one another as brothers and sisters, and that we should not give them fears and tears. Cheers!
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I am praying that in spite of everything, Christmas will be beautiful and meaningful for us, and that in our own little way, we will somehow make Christmas beautiful and meaningful for others, too. Yes, let’s all make Christmas happen.
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Think about it: There were people who were with us last Christmas, and are no longer with us this Christmas. And there are people who are with us this Christmas who may no longer be with us next Christmas. It could be there, or our, last Christmas. So why don’t we make it the best Christmas ever, with God, with our loved ones, with our people, with ourselves.
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Wishing you all a Healthy, Happy, and Holy Christmas!
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A moment with the Lord: Lord, may my constant life mantra be: “God’s will, God’s way, God’s time” Amen.
Source: Philippine Daily Inquirer
