THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US   In the season of Advent, the world seems to transform in many ways. Before Christmas, businesses prepare to increase their sales, lights and decorations change the atmosphere. People say that the Christmas spirit has arrived and express their high spirits by singing. For thousands, Christmas is a time of joy, festivities and family gatherings that fill hearts with love and happiness. Statistics, however, show that many become depressed and suicide rates reach their peak during the holidays. The Christmas season has two extreme sides, for some, Christmas is a time of nostalgia, as they sadly remember a loved one who is no longer with them and has left a great void, a time of loss; for others it is a time for exuberance. The truth is that millions do not care or understand the reason for this celebration: the birth of Baby Jesus and the time leading up to His birth, Advent. Who is this Child? Where does He come from and why has He arrived? It is sad that, many people who have the opportunity to receive the Love of God the Father through His Son do not and lose sight of the real reason to celebrate, the birth of the Savior of the world; this is what we should focus on, regardless of our own ordeals. If we focus on the Love of God, Christmas becomes a time of healing and thanksgiving for what God has done for us, for our own and all mankind’s Salvation. As a child, I was very attracted to the nativity scene where the Baby Jesus lies in a manger surrounded by His parents, shepherds and animals; this moved me. Today, I invite those who have children at home to set up a manger, as it is an excellent opportunity to catechize and teach them the real reason why we celebrate Christmas. If we read the beginning of St. John's Gospel, a mystery full of Love and Mercy is revealed. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was Life, and that Life was the Light of all mankind. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that Light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the Light; he came only as a witness to the Light. The true Light that gives Light to everyone was coming into the world.  He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did not recognize Him. He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become Children of God; Children born not of natural descent,…