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.
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