2023: The Italian Christmas Tradition and The AI Generation

Welcome 2024, we pray that this New Year brings more blessings to all! It's clearly a transitional milestone for humanity. We are at the crossroads between traditional lifestyle and constant technological upgrades, the most recent being the AI technology. It appears that all these turbo developments are slowly leading us to ignore or neglect the affectionate nature of our human relationships like family and friendships. This is reflected by the unregulated and excessive use of electronic gadgets and applications, which drives us further away from natural affectionate human bonding. And this, to some extent is alarming. 

2023 can be considered more pleasant than the preceding few years. But thankfully, Christmas 2023 was celebrated with the same festive warmth in every aspect; the traditional elegant table setting, the delectable appetizers, the home-made special dishes. The Italian Christmas table boasts of a full course meal; appetizers, followed by soup, first plate/carbs then, second plate /choice between meat or fish, then dessert to finish. The Italian cake called 'Panetone' is the national cake for Christmas. The typical table conversations consist of updates in the family, job, school, personal relationships and other light gossips. After dinner, gifts are given or exchanged among the family, which fills the air with laughter, thankfulness, giggles, hugs and smiles! The last part of Christmas is bingo or card games, coupled with politically colored jokes, and hilarious foolishness and sarcasms. By the end of the night, all energies subside and The Baby JESUS (figurine) is laid on the manger of the nativity scene. This is the traditional Italian Christmas celebration.

Christmas is not just about the birth of Lord JESUS, IT is about birth of The SON of GOD, as a man, to form a family with mankind. It's the greatest story ever told, where man plays a major role and GOD IS The Author. 

AI stands for the twisted and limited intelligence that the secular world has to offer and it is threatening to conceal The True and Divine Intelligence Who Loves you and me. 

HE WHO DID NOT SPARE HIS OWN SON, BUT GAVE HIM UP FOR US ALL--HOW WILL HE NOT ALSO, ALONG WITH HIM, GRACIOUSLY GIVE US ALL THINGS?

rom 8:32