Perhaps 2020 has brought out the message of the incarnation to us, as we look ahead to 2021.

 Let's be honest. The year 2020 was not a good year for most, if not all of us. From undergoing lockdowns because of the pandemic, to being stuck at home during the holiday season due to travel restrictions, to the political situation in the United States, I think it's safe to say that last year was indeed a terrible year. 

Even in the life of the Church, the year 2020 brought about many changes that were not so welcome. For instance, for the first time in the history of this Archdiocese (if I'm not mistaken), the celebration of the Liturgy with the entire Body of Christ had to be suspended for months. When Masses slowly started resuming in July, restrictions were imposed such that up till today, not all of us can attend the Sunday Mass on a weekly basis. Many of us were unable to obtain a seat to attend Mass during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. And even for those of us who have been fortunate enough to return to Church regularly, we still have to deal with social distancing, minimal mingling, and absolutely no singing. 

It seems that the year 2020 has turned all of our lives upside down. Many of the things which we took for granted are now seen as mere privileges which we long for once this pandemic ends. Well, the good news is that it's now the year 2021, and with Vaccines to COVID-19 slowly becoming available, if the vaccines are safe and effective, the end to this nightmare may soon be near. 

One thing that has come to me during the Advent season is that we as the Body of Christ are people of hope. During the lockdown, we waited with hopeful longing for the day when Mass in Church would resume. Today, we are waiting with hopeful longing for an end to the pandemic. If there's anything a well catechised Catholic knows, it's that the night will always end because daylight will come. We know that there will be a heaven at the end of our calvary and purification. And if you (like myself) are struggling with being hopeful, I suppose we can learn this from the the story of the incarnation. A story which certainly was not exempt from darkness and tribulation, as much as the world's celebration of Christmas may tell you otherwise.

From the moment of the Annunciation, the lives of Mary and Joseph were turned upside down, not unlike how our lives today have been turned upside down. Their plans to have a family of their own were gone after Mary's yes to the angel, and they had to deal with being victims of a scandal as Mary was found to be with child outside of wedlock. Joseph even had to consider divorcing Mary quietly, so as to protect her and to spare her publicity. It was not an easy time for them. 

When the child Jesus came into the world, there were already people who wanted him dead. The Holy Family had to become refugees in Egypt, while the lives of many innocent boys were lost due to the rage of Herod. Many families had their worlds turned upside down, including the Holy Family. It was not an easy time for them. 

And when the child Jesus was taken to the temple to be consecrated, his mother was told by Simeon that her child was destined to be rejected and despised by many, and that a sword would pierce her soul, quite akin to telling the parents of a newborn baby that their child has a disease and will not live a very long life. It was not an easy time for them. 

But in all these circumstances, what allowed the Holy Family to not lose hope, was the incarnation. It was their faith in the fact that the Christ was with them, that allowed them to move forward into the future with hope, one day at a time. They did not have it easy. Their lives were turned upside down. But they held on to their faith in the incarnation. They took comfort in the fact that God was with them. 

It's no different today, where the world seems to be going through much turmoil and despair because of the pandemic and many other things. What can allow us to look forward with hope, even as we struggle, is to take the message of the incarnation into our everyday lives, even as the season of Christmastide comes to a close. Jesus has promised to be with us always. He is here among us today. He is present in the Eucharist, in the people who live their lives under the guidance of his Holy Spirit, in the marginalised. We have the promise of the incarnation with us. 

The question is... will we hold on to the message of the incarnation this year?