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.