Simbang Gabi 2021 (12-24-21)

 

There was a boy who always caused trouble to his parents. But he recently noticed that his parents did not scold him the way they used to do. Instead, his father would go to their backyard and hammer a nail into the fence. The boy asked for his father’s reason in doing it. The father explained that every time the boy caused them trouble, the former had to hammer a nail into a fence. The boy asked his father if he could do something to remove all the nails from the fence. The father told him that he could gradually remove the nails if the boy could show improvements in his behavior. After some days, the boy changed his ways and he was able to remove all the nails. His father asked him, “What do you see there?” The boy answered, “There are no more nails except for the holes in the fence.” Then the father told the boy, “You could remove all the nails but the holes they left could not be removed. My son, there are times that your bad behavior caused us trouble and left us a scar in our hearts. I only hope the scar would not remain here in our hearts forever.” The boy understood his mistake and he decided to change his ways for good.

My dear friends, children are meant to be the treasures of their parents. Children are signs of God’s goodness. But children like their parents are just human and thus they are imperfect. Instead of being a blessing to parents, they bring problems in the home. This should not be so! Today’s Gospel (Luke1:67-79) tells us how a child brought happiness to his parents being a blessing from God. Zechariah praised God for such a wonderful blessing. But take note also that the father, Zechariah, pointed out how the child should live out his life. He said, “You my child shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways…” Thus, in order to be a blessing for his parents, a child should know how to live his life well. He should know his purpose and direction in life. He should fulfill his life’s mission. In other words, a child who does not know what he should do for his life is a child that brings trouble to his parents. But a child who knows why he exists and lives his life well brings blessings to his home. In today’s mass, let us pray that we as children be the cause of our parents’ joy. If not, then we pray to change our ways for the better so that at the end of their journey, our parents may find happiness in heaven because of us. Amen.

Simbang Gabi 2021 (12-23-21)

 

A boy was small for his size, but he tried his best at football, cheered by his loving father. His father was always there to support him. Even though he was just a bench-warmer, his father always got a ticket to attend at his son’s game. One day, the father died. The boy told the coach, “My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?” The coach replied, “Take the rest of the week off and don’t even plan to come back to our Do-or-Die game on Saturday.” However, on the day of the crucial game, the boy showed up to play. He begged to be given a chance on the field. The coach was surprised when he gave the boy a chance to play. He performed brilliantly and contributed to winning the game. The coach asked, “How was the possible that you played a good game?” The boy replied, “You know coach my father had been blind. When he died, I know it would be the first time he could watch me play. I don’t want to disappoint him. So I did my best in the game.”

My dear friends, the story tells us the worth of a father for his child. Yes, like mothering, fathering is important to a child’s life. A good father does not throw all the obligations on the mother to raise a child. The father needs to get involved and be a partner of his wife. Like Zechariah in Luke 1: 57-66, a good father should be involved in their child’s life even in small matters like in giving the child a name. A father who shows his concern for the personal growth and development of his child is what the world now needs and not those fathers who only love beating their children and leave them unprotected. In today’s mass, let us pray for all fathers to fulfill their obligation as parents and may they build good relationships with their children. May they also remember: Christmas is merrier when the family prayer is always led by the father. Amen.

Simbang Gabi 2021 (12-22-21)

 

A king who had everything called his men for a meeting. He said he was unhappy with his life and he wanted them to look for ways to make him happy. He had wine and women; he also had silver and gold, yet he was unhappy. Not one of his men could make the king happy. So the king called a wise man and told the same. The wise man told the king that he should be happy if he had all the gold in his kingdom. But the king replied that he was still unhappy despite he had all the gold. So the wise man asked the king to show him his gold. The king did it but was still unhappy. The wise man asked the king to pick the gold that he valued much and place them in a sack. The king also did it but was still unhappy. The wise man asked the king to close his eyes and open it only after counting one to ten. The king did it but when he opened his eyes, the wise man was running away from him with his gold. The king became angry that he ran after the wise man. When the king caught the wise man, he grabbed him and took from him his gold. The wise man asked the king, “How did you feel while chasing me?” The king replied, “Of course, I was mad because you are not a wise man but a charlatan. You deserve to be punished” The wise man asked another question, “How did you feel when you caught me?” The king replied, “Now, I am happy. I recover the gold that you attempt to steal from me.” Finally, the wise man said to the king, “Well, my king, I have solved your problem. It’s you who said that you are now happy. Would you still punish me for making you happy?”

My dear friends, happiness can’t be found outside of us because it comes from within us. People or things cannot make us happy. Rather, it is how we see and put more value on them (people or things) that causes us happiness. Look at Mama Mary (Luke 1:46-56). She said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” The word magnify here means to make a thing big. It means seeing everything in a greater perspective or better view. In this way, Mary valued her experience with God. She was happy about it. If like Mary, we could magnify a thing or a person or an event, then we would not be looking for happiness anymore. If we could give emphasis on small things and appreciate them, we would not wait for bigger things to happen in order to be happy. If we could be keen enough to value the little that we have, we would not ask for more. If like Mary, we could see the hands of God working in every detail of our life, we would accept things as they are and would be happy to say, “My soul magnifies the Lord.”

Simbang Gabi 2021 (12-21-21)

 

A father with his two sons were having some conversations about their awards and achievements in life. The father was an engineer while both sons were also professionals; one was a lawyer and the other was a doctor. He remarked to his wife that it was a shame she had nothing to contribute for the family. He even said that the genes of their two sons were inherited from him and never from his wife. The wife silently entered a room and took something there. Then she went back where his husband was with their two sons and presented to them two certificates. They were birth certificates of the two. The mother told her two sons, “Remember you could not have received all your awards and achievements if I did not give birth to you. And to you my husband, do not say my two sons inherited their good genes from you because I am the only one who know who their father was.”

My dear friends, the joy and pain of a mother is her children. From the moment of conception and pregnancy all the way to the birth of a child, there is both joy and pain being experienced (during those stages for a mother). Just as the joy is part of being a mother, so is pain. With regard to Mama Mary, (Luke 1:39-45), there was joy in her the moment she learned she was about to conceive the Son of God. She went with haste into the hill country to visit and share with her cousin Elizabeth her great joy. But there was pain too when they had to run from Herod (Matthew 2:13-23). We Christians also know that in John 19:25, Mama Mary was a silent mother at the cross. She kept her pain to herself. There was pain that came from the death of her child.

In today’s mass, may we remember our mother and pray for them. May all the children make their mothers proud. For those mothers who have good children, we thank God. For those mothers who are in pain because their children abandon them, disrespect them or have put them to shame, may God give them strength to carry on as mothers. For those mothers who suffer from the loss of their children, may Mama Mary be their guide and assistance. Amen.

Simbang Gabi 2021 (12-20-21)

 

On a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house.

In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore.

His mother, in the house, was looking out the window and saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could. Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother.

It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him. From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two.

The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go.

A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator. Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived.

His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal. And, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother’s fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs; and then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, “But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn’t let go.”

This story reminds us of the essence of a mother. A mother is someone who is more concerned about her child’s best interest rather than her own interests. She does everything for her child from giving him life, protecting his life, to let the child appreciate life and to let him live his own life. No matter what will happen to her, she will protect her child in all events and circumstances. This is true to life in the case of Mary. In Luke 1:26-38, Mary was told by an angel that she will conceive in her womb and bear a son, and she shall call his name Jesus. Mary said in reply, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” There seems to be no problem by merely looking at the details of their conversation. But during the time of Mary, a woman who is found pregnant and having a baby out of wedlock shall face the community’s punishment. Nevertheless, Mary took the risk by accepting the gift of motherhood.  She understood that the child in her womb and/or in any woman’s womb is a gift from God. She was willing to accept the community’s punishment as part of the consequences of having a baby out of wedlock.

My dear friends, we pray today for all pregnant women that they can find connection with their baby in their womb. May they realize that their baby is a gift from God no matter what are the surrounding circumstances of the mother. May all the pregnant women of this world welcome the baby in their womb and give birth to him/her. Pregnancy is a period of a very intimate relationship between the mother and the baby in her womb. Motherhood begins when a human life begins in a woman's womb. Any good mother know this –the baby has caused no wrong to her as he/she comes as a gift from God. There is nothing left to be done but to receive the baby with a joyful heart. Amen.

Simbang Gabi 2021 (12-19-21)

 

Before Christmas eve, a man stopped at a flower shop to order some flowers to be wired to his mother who lived two hundred miles away.

As he got out of his car he noticed a young girl sitting on the curb sobbing.

He asked her what was wrong and she replied, "I wanted to buy a red rose for my mother.

But I only have fifty pesos, and a rose costs eighty pesos."

The man smiled and said, "Come on in with me. I'll buy you a rose."

He bought the little girl her rose and ordered his own mother's flowers.

As they were leaving he offered the girl a ride home.

She said, "Yes, please! You can take me to my mother."

She directed him to a cemetery, where she placed the rose on a freshly dug grave.

The man returned to the flower shop, canceled the wire order, picked up a bouquet and drove to his mother's house.

My dear friends, we have heard of many stories of greatness about mothers but we seldom know one story about children who do great things for their mother. But this we know: a mother’s joy is her children. Any mother can say how true this feeling is towards their children. In re-reading the Gospel (Luke 1:39-45), we can find how happy or joyful the two expectant mothers were –Mary and Elizabeth. Both were concerned about their babies in their womb. They cared less about other circumstances that surrounded them but they were more focused on their babies. Their babies grew in their love and with the love of God. When their babies became adults, they never shamed their mothers (Elizabeth and Mary) before the public. Rather, they made their mothers proud.

Today, let us pray for all our mothers. May Mama Mary and St. Elizabeth guide their children so that those mothers may be honored before anybody. As Christmas scene is not complete without Mama Mary, a family Christmas Day is not complete without a mother. Christmas is about Jesus. If we are true followers of Jesus, then we should also aspire to make our family one with a mother like what we see in the nativity picture of Jesus. May all our mothers find their worth in sacrificing themselves just to give life for their children. Amen.

Simbang Gabi 2021 (12-18-21)

 

One day a 15-year-old girl asked her father, “What are you going to get me for my 18th birthday?” Her father replied, “Please wait, there is much time left.”

When the girl was 17 years old, she fainted and was rushed to the hospital. The doctor came out and told her father that she had a congenital heart disease.

While she was lying in the hospital bed, she said softly, “Papa, did the doctor tell you that I am going to die?” The father replied; “No, you are going to live and celebrate your 18^th birthday.”

Then her 18th birthday finally came. She was released from the hospital though she was just recovering. She came home to celebrate her 18^th birthday as promised by her father. During the program, she looked for her father. Instead, she received a letter from him which read, “My dearest daughter, as you read this letter it means that everything went well. Just as I have promised you, you will celebrate your 18^th birthday. If you wonder what I am going to give you on your 18th birthday. Well, I gave you my heart so that you can live to celebrate your new life. I love you my daughter.”

My dear friends, we hear various stories about fathers who show greater love to their children. They deserve our prayers during this simbang gabi thanking God for their existence. Loving fathers are rare but they do exist in reality. One of them is St. Joseph. In our Gospel (Matthew 1:18-25), St. Joseph knew that he is not worthy to be called the father of Jesus as Jesus is the Son of God. Yet, when God chose him to be the legal and foster father of Jesus, he did love Jesus as his very own son. Remember the silent sacrifices St. Joseph did for his son as Mary and he journeyed to Bethlehem, as Mary gave birth to Jesus in a stable, as he led his family to safety during their flight to Egypt, etc. St. Joseph is indeed a loving father.

Today, let us pray for all our fathers. May St. Joseph touch their hearts so that they can stand as loving fathers to their children. As Christmas scene is not complete without St. Joseph, a family Christmas Day is not complete without a father. Christmas is about Jesus. If we are true followers of Jesus, then we should also aspire to make our family one with a father like what we see in the nativity picture of Jesus. May all our fathers know how to love their home, not only their kids but also their wife. Amen.

Simbang Gabi 2021 (12-17-21)

 

A dying father called his son. He said, “Son, I have nothing to give you but let me just pray for you and give you my blessing. I bless you that you will live happily that even the dust you touch will become gold with your touch.” After giving his blessing to his son, the father died peacefully.

Years later, the son became successful in business and lived a happy life. He believed it was all the fruit of his father’s blessing on him. One of his friends became envious and said to him that if his father’s blessing is real, then why not try to sell honey in Honey Land. The son loved the idea and so he bought honey and loaded them in a ship and reached the shore of Honey Land. Honey Land was ruled by a Datu who happened that on the day the son arrived, was walking on the beach with his men. In fact, the Datu and his men were looking for his lost ring within the vicinity. When the Datu saw him, the former asked the latter what was his business in his place. The son replied, “Honey.” The Datu laughed at him saying that his land is called Honey Land because it is known for its abundant supply of honey. There is no way that the son could make his business prosper in that place. But the son explained that he believed in his father’s blessing. He told the Datu that his father prayed that even the dust he touches will become gold with his touch. While saying this, the son bent down and took a handful of sand from the ground and opened his fist in front of the Datu and dropped sand from between his fingers. The Datu could not believe it. It was the Datu’s lost ring in the son’s hand. The Datu was happy to find his ring and he promised to give everything to the son. The son just asked the Datu to but all the honey he brought to their land.

My dear friends, a good father like the one we have in the story is worth remembering. But how about those who are not good enough for their children? Well, whether a father is good or not, we have to remember them. We remember those who are good and thank God for their goodness. We also remember those who are not and pray for their souls.

Re-read our Gospel (Matthew 1:1-17) for today. It provides us with the list of the ancestors of Jesus and most of the names that appear are of the fathers. Why are their names there? Are those fathers worth remembering? Try to know who Judah was. He was the father of Perez and Zera by Tamar who happened to be his daughter-in-law! How about David? King David committed adultery with Bathsheba which eventually led to the death of Uriah, the husband of Bathsheba arranged by King David himself. God could have erased or removed their names from the list but no. God did not change the past before Jesus entered into our human history. He wants us to remember that whether those fathers are good or not, such a fact could not stop Him in sending His only Son to save the world. It was indeed His reason in sending Jesus –to give meaning to the past by freeing all from the slavery of sin and to lead everyone to a better future by opening the door of heaven.

Today, we pray for all the fathers, both living and dead. Let us remember them in our simbang gabi. It is through them that God made us exist. We are here to forgive and heal the past among the family members and to lead everyone to find freedom in Jesus’ name. Let us celebrate the birth of our Lord by playing our part in the present as a carrier of God’s love and not only as a carrier of our father’ genes. Amen.

Simbang Gabi 2021 (12-17-21)

 

A dying father called his son. He said, “Son, I have nothing to give you but let me just pray for you and give you my blessing. I bless you that you will live happily that even the dust you touch will become gold with your touch.” After giving his blessing to his son, the father died peacefully.

Years later, the son became successful in business and lived a happy life. He believed it was all the fruit of his father’s blessing on him. One of his friends became envious and said to him that if his father’s blessing is real, then why not try to sell honey in Honey Land. The son loved the idea and so he bought honey and loaded them in a ship and reached the shore of Honey Land. Honey Land was ruled by a Datu who happened that on the day the son arrived, was walking on the beach with his men. In fact, the Datu and his men were looking for his lost ring within the vicinity. When the Datu saw him, the former asked the latter what was his business in his place. The son replied, “Honey.” The Datu laughed at him saying that his land is called Honey Land because it is known for its abundant supply of honey. There is no way that the son could make his business prosper in that place. But the son explained that he believed in his father’s blessing. He told the Datu that his father prayed that even the dust he touches will become gold with his touch. While saying this, the son bent down and took a handful of sand from the ground and opened his fist in front of the Datu and dropped sand from between his fingers. The Datu could not believe it. It was the Datu’s lost ring in the son’s hand. The Datu was happy to find his ring and he promised to give everything to the son. The son just asked the Datu to but all the honey he brought to their land.

My dear friends in Christ, Proverbs 17: 6 states, “Parents are the pride of their children.” Yes. Parents should be the pride of their children. From birth, children depend on their parents to provide them what they need not only to survive but to also have a healthy and a happy life. Children who know the sacrifices made by their parents for their welfare do not easily forget them. In fact, parents, especially the good ones, deserve to be remembered by their children as well as by their children’s children. Their stories as good parents are worthy to be passed on from one generation to another.

In our Gospel (Matthew 1:1-17), we find the list of parents or great-great-grandparents of Jesus which mostly features the names of the fathers. To be honest, for those who are familiar with the Bible, they only know some of them like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, etc. But for the rest, they know little or no details at all. But why are their names in the list? What greatness did they do so that people should remember them? Well, whatever is the reason why their names are in the list of great-great-grand parents of Jesus, what matters most is that at the end we find the name of Jesus. In other words, God did not change the past before Jesus entered into our human history.  Rather, He sent Jesus to give meaning to the past by freeing all from the slavery of sin and to lead everyone to a better future by opening the door of heaven.

Today, we pray for our parents, grandparents, great grandparents and great-great grandparents, both living and dead. Let us remember them in our simbang gabi. It is through them that God made us exist. We are here to forgive and heal the past among the family members and to lead everyone to find freedom in Jesus’ name. Let us celebrate the birth of our Lord by playing our part in the present as a carrier of God’s love to our family. Amen.

Simbang Gabi 2021 (12-16-21)

 In a largest buffet restaurant where many people would go for lunch or for dinner, a regular customer noticed a man who came in when it was crowded and after eating, he left the place secretly without paying. The regular customer informed the manager of the restaurant but the latter just smiled. The next day, the same thing happened. The man came in when it was crowded and after eating, he left the place without paying. This time, the regular customer decided to report what he observed to the owner of the restaurant as the manager did not take any actions. The owner replied, “Sir, we thank you for your concern. This is not the first time I heard of this incident. There were many customers who came to me to report this matter.” Then the customer asked the owner, “So why did you not do something to stop this man?”  The owner replied, “You know sir I feel I owe the success of my business to that man. That man would stand in front of my restaurant and pray for it to get crowded. It is only when the restaurant is crowded that he could come quickly to eat and sneak off. I rather let him eat rather than to lose a man whose prayer is heard by God.”

This story tells us how precious is a man/woman whose prayer is heard by God. In other words, we cannot simply ignore those who are called “malakas sa Diyos” in our midst.

In our Gospel (John 5:33-36), Jesus said that John the Baptist was a lamp that burned and gave light, and people chose for a time to enjoy his light. In saying this, it can also be said that John experienced such privilege of being “malakas sa Diyos”. There is nothing wrong in recognizing John as “malakas sa Diyos”. However, in over emphasizing that John is “malakas sa Diyos”, people might fail to recognize or acknowledge the presence of Jesus in their midst as the “Nag-iisang Anak ng Diyos”. Jesus Himself said this, “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish –the very works that I am doing –testify that the Father has sent me.” Thus, people should rejoice not because of the message that the Son of God is coming which John the Baptist proclaimed but because of the real presence of Jesus Himself, the “Nag-iisang Anak ng Diyos”.

Today in our first day of novena or simbang gabi, we have to realize that we are not doing this because we have prepared our three wishes and after attending all the nine (9) days of simbang gabi, we expect that those wishes may come true. No. Simbang gabi is about Jesus –celebrating His first coming as the only Son of God. We celebrate our faith that Jesus was born to save us. This is why it is also called misa de Aguinaldo because by going to the church, we offer prayers and sacrifices as our gift to Jesus on His birthday.

We therefore, as Christians and Catholics, should not fail to recognize that Christmas is all about Jesus. The only reason to celebrate this season is that Jesus, the Son of God, became man on that first Christmas day. We, His followers, cannot but rejoice in remembering the day of His birth. Amen.