New year is an annual celebration that is focused on transitioning of the calendar year after 365 or 366 days.
Often, we hear a loud noise coming from fire crackers. Hopefully we'll just a hear a cracks from fire crackers — which means celebration with peace, and not those cracks coming from guns — which means war, hatred and famine.
It is very timely to talk about PEACE, since we are now transitioned from the year 2019 to 2020.
But we in Catholic Church is not just celebrating the New Year's Eve, rather we celebrate the Motherhood of Mary (Theotokos). Thus, I took the acronym of PEACE from the homily of our Priest on the celebration of the Solemnity of the Motherhood of Mary.
P - Pacific — to pacify; calm and peaceful
E - Evenhanded — fair; not bias; not favoring one side or group over another
A - Altruistic — not selfish; want to help others
C - Christ-centered — live the life taught by Christ.
E - Excellence — giving your best in everything; high quality
Several months after the New Year, we also encountered different challenges. We heard news about bombings, diseases, corruption, earthquakes, typhoons, volcanic erruption & other matters that caused calamity and casualties. This year's seems to be very difficult to everyone, many has died, many gave up their lives but those who has the strength remains standing.
We are blessed that we have the strength, we don't have the reason to give up, hence we must fight to obtain the glory, the freedom and the peace.
Year 2020's headlines were always COVID-19. Until when are we going to hear this headlines? Until when? Are you not tired hearing the same news? Hearing the same headlines? Hearing the numbes of cases? Hearing the numbers of casualties?
I am tired! So I am committed to help; to cooperate and follow what is implemented for our common good. Let's be part of the change, because this year isn't a misfortune, this is a year to be one, to be faithful, to be prayerful — this is our time.
Don't be afraid to speak against evil, don't be hesitant to speak what is truth. Share love, not hatred.
We pray that 2020 will be blessed rather than cursed.
Let there be PEACE!
Pray unceasingly to the Lord.