Years ago, there was a
very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for art
collecting. Together they travelled around the world, adding only the finest
art treasures to their collection. Priceless works by Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet
and many others adorned the walls of the family estate. The widowed, elder man
looked on with satisfaction as his only child became an experienced art
collector. The son’s trained eye and sharp business mind caused his father to
beam with pride as they dealt with art collectors around the world.
As winter approached,
war engulfed the nation, and the young man left to serve his country. After
only a few short weeks, his father received a telegram. His beloved son had
died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic. Distraught and lonely, the old
man faced the upcoming Christmas holidays with anguish and sadness.
One Christmas morning, a
knock on the door awakened the depressed old man. A soldier visited him saying,
“I was a friend of your son. I was the one he was rescuing when he died. I am
an artist and I want to give you this.” As the old man unwrapped the package, the
paper gave way to reveal a portrait of the man’s son.
The following spring,
the old man became ill and passed away. The art world was in anticipation!
Unmindful of the story of the man’s only son, but in his honor; those paintings
would be sold at an auction. Art collectors from around the world gathered to
bid on some of the world’s most spectacular paintings. The auction began with a
painting that was not on any museum’s list. It was the painting of the man’s
son. The auctioneer asked for an opening bid. The room was silent. No one
spoke. From the back of the room came, “Who cares about that painting? It’s
just a picture of his son. Let’s forget it and go on to the good stuff.” More
voices in agreement. “No, we have to sell this one first,” replied the
auctioneer. “Now, who will take the son?”
Finally, a friend of the
old man spoke, “Will you take ten dollars for the painting? That’s all I have.
I knew the boy, so I’d like to have it.” “I have ten dollars. Will anyone go
higher?” called the auctioneer. After more silence, the gavel fell. Cheers
filled the room and someone exclaimed, “Now we can get on with it and bid on
these treasures!” the auctioneer looked at the audience and announced the
auction was over. Stunned disbelief quieted the room. Someone spoke up and
asked, “What do you mean it’s over? What about all these paintings?” The
auctioneer replied, “It’s very simple. According to the will of the father,
whoever takes the son, gets it all.”
My dear friends in
Christ, the story tells us how a father and son relationship affects a father. Just
like in the story, our Gospel, Matthew 1: 1-17, highlights the importance of a
son for a father. A son is important to perpetuate or even immortalize the name
of his father. As an example, if the father has named his son after his own
name, the son becomes his junior. This, interestingly, we could not hear from a
mother who has named her daughter after her. Moreover, our particular Gospel
passage does not just show importance to the birth of the son for familial or
social reason but also for a religious reason. For a father, a son is a gift
from God and at the same time a gift for God. The firstborn son succeeds to the
authority of the father. Only a son inherits priesthood as a holy profession
from his father’s lineage. In saying these, it does not mean a baby girl should
be unwelcomed. It is just but embedded in some subcultures to prefer to have a
son rather than a daughter. Perhaps, one reason for this is that a baby boy
continues to bear the surname or family name of the father even if later he
marries. In the situation of one’s daughters who enter into marriage, they
follow the family name of their husbands. In addition, any honor given to a son
then is a recognition of one’s family name, that of the father. To state an
example for this, once a son becomes a lawyer, he is called attorney coupled
with his family name. If he marries a lawyer, his wife is called attorney
coupled with his family name. To state an opposite example, a son who is
prodigal is a shame to his father’s name. Though it is not bad to give
importance to the birth of a son, parents should welcome any child, girl or
boy, given to them by God. In the Bible, it is often mentioned how Jesus
welcomed children, boys and girls. So, a baby girl is as important as a baby
boy in the family. What matters here is not the gender of the child but the
child herself or himself. The message of our Gospel for us today is clear: for
every birth, for every child, there is hope for a better future in the family
as well as in the society. For every birth, for every child, there is God who
always remembers to send us someone to take our place and to continue the works
God has started in us and through us. For every birth of a child, either girl
or boy, we celebrate life as a gift of God. Amen.
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