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.