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 18th
birthday.”
Then her 18th birthday finally came.
She was released from the hospital though she was just recovering. She came
home to celebrate her 18th 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 18th
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.
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