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.
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