4th Day of Simbang Gabi 2013

One old man was sitting with his 25 years old son in the train….  Train is about to leave the station. All passengers are settling down their seat. As train started young man was filled with lot of joy and curiosity. He was sitting on the window side. He went out one hand and feeling the passing air. He shouted, “Papa see all trees are going behind”. Old man smile and admired son feelings. Beside the young man one couple was sitting and listing all the conversion between father and son. They were little awkward with the attitude of 25 years old man behaving like a small child. Suddenly young man again shouted, “Papa see the pond and animals. Clouds are moving with train”. Couple was watching the young man embarrassingly. Now its start raining and some of water drops touches the young man’s hand. He filled with joy and he closed the eyes. He shouted again,” Papa it’s raining, water is touching me, see papa”. Couple couldn’t help themselves and ask the old man. “Why don’t you visit the Doctor and get treatment for your son.” Old man said, ” Yes, We came from the hospital as today only my son got his eye sight for the first time in his life. I am happy to see my son happy." My dear friends, children are blessings from God. On one hand, there are many couples who have been married for some long years, but they do not have any children even if they wish to have at least one. On the other hand, there are some couples who refuse to have children and yet they get many. Can't this be a proof that God is in action in the life of the couples? In our Gospel, the message that children are blessings from God is clear. Zechariah had experienced this when an angel declared to him: "Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son,and you shall name him John. And you will have joy and gladness,and many will rejoice at his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord" (Lk 1:5-25). Children are not only blessings from God but also bearer of joy to the family and the community. The problem however happens as the children grow, some become disobedient to their parents. Others become unruly. They become the opposite of blessings to their family. They are ungrateful to the kindness their parents showered them. If only those children realize why they came to life, that they should bring blessings to their family, the world would be filled with happy families. My dear friends, we are all children of our parents. Above all, we are God's children. Let us recognize why we are here on earth i.e., to be a blessing from God to one another. Amen.