Our Daily Bread Christmas: Gift Of GraceExemplo

Christmas Welcome. In Pampanga Province in Luzon, Philippines, you’ll find San Fernando. The historic city hosts the Giant Lantern Festival featuring the quintessential Filipino Christmas tradition—paróls. With simple bamboo, colored paper, and candles, gifted artists create breathtaking star-shaped lanterns to celebrate the birth of Christ. Filipinos around the world have taken this Christmas tradition with them into suburban neighborhoods, main street businesses, and high-rise condos. You’ll even find paróls flickering in the humblest stilt houses in the most remote barangays (villages) in the Philippines.

The settings differ dramatically, but the Christmas joy remains the same. Long ago on a rural hillside, shepherds “staying in the fields” received a startling appearance. “Suddenly, the angel was joined by a vast host of others—the armies of heaven—praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in highest heaven, and peace on earth to those with whom God is pleased’ ” (Luke 2:13–14). The paról signifies the star of Bethlehem that pointed gift-bearing wise men to the Light of the world. The wealthy magi and the homeless shepherds were equally welcome. As the prophet had foretold, “For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine” (Isa. 9:2). This Light is for everyone. —Tim Gustafson

The light Christ brings will illuminate even our darkest day.