EDITORIAL - Joy and sorrow

The joy of Christmas is tempered today by the grief that pervades the flood-stricken areas in Mindanao. As the nation celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, it also offers prayers for the dead, the missing, the bereaved, and those who continue to endure the many miseries of disaster.

Farms have been destroyed. Thousands have lost their homes and other belongings and must now huddle together for the traditional Christmas family gathering in cramped evacuation centers. The humanitarian crisis has prompted the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to issue a flash appeal to the world for millions of dollars in relief aid. Both the international community and local groups and individuals are pitching in, making charity a prevailing theme this Christmas.

Before disaster struck, with the cities of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan the hardest hit, surveys showed Filipinos being hopeful about the coming year. The mood is certain to have changed in the flood-stricken areas, where rescue and retrieval teams are taking no Christmas break in their work. As of Friday, hundreds of people remained unaccounted for, and there will be no Christmas cheer for those whose loved ones are missing.

In many places across the country last night, special prayers were recited for the flood victims during the Midnight Mass. Today families will gather for traditional get-togethers, gift-giving and celebration of a most joyous day in Christendom. Shepherds of the Church have reminded the faithful that beyond the feasting and exchange of gifts, this is a day for celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. His teachings are a source of strength, whether in moments of joy or times of deep sorrow.

A blessed Christmas to all!