MISA DUEOM SA CAMACA 12-19-2012

In the Philippines, a “hilot” has always something to say about the drama of pregnancy. He would say, “When a husband learns his wife is pregnant he is happy. If it is his querida, it is a problem. If his son brings home a pregnant girl, it is ok but if it is his daughter who gets pregnant, it is a big no –no! If it is the awaited firstborn, he is excited, but if it is the tenth child already, he is disappointed. If it is his first baby boy he cuddles him, but if his children are all boys, then he looks for a daughter.” Then he would continue, “If a wife is naglilihi, the husband should give his attention to her. If she likes balut, it will produce a hairy child. If she likes dinuguan dish, it will cause one’s baby to be dark. If she likes lanzones, it will bring a fair and smooth-skinned baby.” And he would end by saying, “Members of the family also would watch the shape of a woman’s stomach; for a pointed tummy it means it is a boy. But if it is rounded then it is a girl. If the mother is pretty during pregnancy, she will have a daughter. If the mother looks gross and her armpits dark, she will most definitely produce a son. My dear friends in Christ, talking about pregnancy, our Gospel (Luke 1:5-25) speaks about this particularly that of Elizabeth. Angel Gabriel came to announce this to Zechariah but he doubted. For Zechariah it is impossible to be a father to a child because it is impossible for his wife to get pregnant at her age. But the angel declared that everything is according to God’s will including pregnancy. Here the Gospel conveys to us that it is God who wills everything and such does not exclude pregnancy. How many couples are there who are childless even if they are married for some long years already? How many teenagers are there who engage in a pre-marital sex while using contraceptives and yet they get pregnant? People should not forget that getting pregnant might not be part of the plan of the couple but they have to be open to accept that it might be the plan of God. Whether we like it or not, whether people would call the baby legitimate or illegitimate child, every baby in the womb of a mother is a grace from God. Let us not desecrate God’s grace then to us.

MISA DUEOM SA CAMACA 12-18-2012

A husband comes home drunk and breaks some crockery; vomits and falls down on the floor. His wife pulls him up and cleans everything. On the next day when he gets up he expects her to be really angry with him. He prays that they should not have a fight. He finds a note near the table… “Honey, your favorite breakfast is ready on the table, I had to leave early to buy grocery. I’ll come running back to you, my love. I love you. … ” He gets surprised and asks his son, “What happened last night..?” His son told him, “When mom pulled you to bed and tried removing your boots and shirt you were dead drunk and you said ‘Hey Lady! Leave me alone… I am married !!!’” My dear friends in Christ, today on our third day of simbang gabi, we include in our prayers all the fathers of every family. Being a father is not just about fulfilling one’s social or personal role but it is embracing the vocation which God has given him. In our Gospel, (Matthew 1:18-25), Joseph wanted to leave Mary upon knowing that she bears in her womb the son of God. But God himself did not allow Joseph to leave Mary. God through his messenger revealed the vocation of Joseph to be the human father of Jesus. Today, we have to call on all fathers to embrace their vocation like what Joseph did. We pray that they recognize their essential part in loving their families. We pray that they make their house a home where the fathers protect and take care of their household members. We pray that on Christmas day, all fathers would lead their families in praying the prayer before meal as well as after meal. We hope to see all fathers spend their Christmas vacation with their families rather than with anybody else. May all the fathers learn the way of St. Joseph in loving their families.

MISA DUEOM SA CAMACA 12-17-2012

My mother had only one eye, I hated her as I was ashamed of her She was a cook in the school cafeteria where I studied. One day, when I saw still in a primary class, She came to visit me to see for herself that I was all right. I was very upset, how dare she do this to me? After that incident I ignored her & looked on her Only with hateful eyes …. The next day, a fellow-student told me, " oohhh , your mother has only one eye !" At that moment, I wanted to crawl under the floor And that my mother would be out of my life completely . The next day I went to meet her & to tell here: " because of you I am the joke at school, Why don't you die and go away !? But, she did not respond …. I wasn't thinking and did not know what I was saying, I was very angry . I could not imagine How she would react to my remarks. And, I left town . I studied relentlessly and obtained a scholarship to continue my studies abroad. In fact, I completed my studies, got married, bought a house and set up my family. I lived a happy and a peaceful life . One day, my mother comes to visit me. It has been many years since she had disappeared, She had never met here grand-children. She remained at the doorstep While my children were making fun of her I shouted at her: " How date you come all the way here and frighten my kids?! With a calm voice she responded: "I apologize, I am at the wrong address." And she disappeared. One day, I received an invitation from my hometown school to attend a reunion under the "close family ties " topic I lied to my wife and made her believe that I was traveling for business. After the reunion I stopped by the house where I grew up The neighbours informed me that my mother had passed away . I did not shed even one drop of tear!!! The neighbor handed me a letter that my mother had left for me "My Dear son, I always thought of you." I regret having visited you abroad And frightened your kids …I was very pleased when I heard that you would come to attend the reunion …The only thing was that I could not get up from my bed to come and see you…. … I am broken-hearted that I brought shame to you on numerous occasions… … Did you know that when you were a baby you had an accident and lost your one eye?... … and , as any other mother would, I would not let you grow up with only one eye…. So. I gave you my eye…….. I was very proud and happy to know that my son would be able to see the world with my eye … with all my love… …Your mother…. My dear friends in Christ, today as we celebrate our second simbang gabi, we have to remember and include in our prayers our ancestors, grandparents and most especially our parents. In our Gospel, (Matthew 1:1-17), the list of the ancestors, grandparents and parents of Jesus Christ is mentioned. The sacred author could not have inserted this genealogy of Jesus if it would have no significance for us to understand it. Well, the list is just a list and there is no mention of accomplishments or failures made by the ancestors of Jesus. This would tell us that no matter how good or bad our ancestors, grandparents and even parents are, we must not deny them our love because they are our “gin-gikanan”. Even if we have not found them loving or loveable, still we are called to embrace them, forgive their mistakes and failings, and understand that they are instruments of God for our existence. How many grandparents or parents would spend their Christmas this year in loneliness because they were abandoned by their children and grandchildren? How many good grandparents and parents are there whose goodness and kindness are not appreciated or affirmed? How many grandparents and parents are there who are not so good in treating their children and grandchildren but have to be forgiven by the latter? We often spend more times in a year with our friends rather than with our grandparents and parents. But today, the Church reminds us to give more time being with our grandparents and parents and to forgive many times whenever they have hurt us. Merriness in Christmas begins at home.

MISA DUEOM SA CAMACA 12-16-2012

A boy asked his father to pray with him before he would go to sleep. This never happened before because he had no time for his son. Then the boy made the sign of the cross and prayed saying “Dear God let me grow as a good man like my father. Amen.” When his father heard this, he cried and prayed, “Dear God, I know I have been unfaithful to my wife and have no time for my son for so long a time. I pray tonight that you change me to be a good man like what my son thinks I am.” My dear friends in Christ, through his son’s prayer, the father learned to come close to God. He also prayed and promised to change his ways –turning away from sin and leading his way towards God to indicate his conviction. Today is the first day of our simbang gabi. Our simbang gabi is not just a mere religious activity or tradition but a novena mass. It is a novena because we have to wake up early before dawn for nine consecutive days and go to the church to celebrate mass. It is during these days that we pray and reflect on our ways whether we have been far away from God or we have come closer to God. In our Gospel (Luke 3:10-18), people asked John the Baptist, "What then shall we do?" And he answered them, "He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." He also said to tax collectors, "Collect no more than is appointed you." Then he said to the soldiers, "Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages." Here, the message of John the Baptist is clear: there must be a change in one’s ways –to get rid of one’s old self, one’s selfishness and sinfulness. This is the first step to get closer to God. We are made aware by the Church today that on our first day of simbang gabi, we have to start with a strong conviction to turn away from our selfishness and sinfulness. Our prayer, our novena, our simbang gabi would be useless if it would not help us change our wicked ways so as to get closer to God. Moreover, let our prayers also lead others to the path of holiness, praying for them to find their way straight to God.

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 2012 (Camaligan, Batan, Aklan)

Jessica Cox was born without arms. Born in 1983 in Sierra Vista, Arizona, Jessica has learned to live her life with her feet. Jessica’s father has said he never shed a tear about her birth condition. He had full confidence in her potential. With the support of her parents and family, Jessica became confident in herself as an adult and continued to explore the world with her feet. At the age of 14, Jessica earned her first Black Belt in the International Taekwondo Federation. After graduating from high school, Jessica attended the University of Arizona where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. During college, Jessica found a club of the American Taekwondo Association and resumed training in the sport. Even though Jessica already had one black belt in a different style, she had to relearn all of the color belt material. The instructors created a curriculum that would be accessible to any future armless students. Jessica then became the first armless person to earn a black belt in the ATA. Jessica’s most famous accomplishment was learning how to fly. It took three states, four airplanes, two flight instructors and a discouraging year to find the right aircraft: a 1946 415C Ercoupe Airplane. She received the Guinness World Record for being the first person certified to fly an airplane with only their feet. (http://rightfooted.com/) Jessica Cox shows to all of us that no matter how limited our circumstances in life, they cannot put limit to our chances to do great things for our life. The way one thinks has a greater impact on his/her life than a physical limitation. In our Gospel (Luke 3:1-6), it is said that John the Baptist prepares the way of the Lord by preaching about repentance for the forgiveness of sins. This is the same message that we receive today from the Church as we celebrate the second Sunday of Advent with the Holy Sacrifice of the mass. We are called to turn our back from our sins and from our selfishness. This seems difficult if not impossible. How many times did we go to confession and promise not to sin again yet we always find ourselves falling into the same temptations? How many times did we say sorry to someone we hurt yet we continue to hurt them? How difficult it is to put an end to some vices like smoking excessively, drinking liquors which leads to drunkenness, gossiping, etc? We know we are backsliders! We think it is useless to repent and it is better to live in sin. Well, before we totally succumb to our sinfulness, we have to be aware that no matter how limited our circumstances in life, they should not put limit to our chances to do great things for our life. Isn’t it the way we think has a greater impact on our life? So instead of thinking about our limitations and how many times we fail in making our path straight for the Lord, we have to think more of the grace of God to sustain us in our effort to turn away from sins. It is only with God’s grace that we can abandon our sins and all we have to do is make ourselves ready to accept and receive such grace. We still examine our conscience and go to confession. We have to be honest enough making a perfect contrition. It is only then that we say with conviction; I have prepared my life for you Lord, please come and lead my life. Amen.