When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with the flocks,
the work of Christmas begins.

To find the lost,
to heal the broken,
to feed the hungry,
to release the prisoner,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among brothers.
to make music with the heart.

"May this Christmas be different from the many Christmas that had passed us by, for those who have, will this Christmas, become the new JESUSES of our time, who would bring real good news to those who have not.  By that we mean food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, home to the homeless, clothes to the naked, medicine or medical attention to the sick and free legal assistance to the unjustly incarcerated.  MAY THE POOR INDEED RECEIVE THE GOOD NEWS THAT THEY ALL DESERVE!"

Reprinted with permission from
Fr. Dodong Oso, Candle Light,
Dec. 24-30, 2000