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.