9th Day of Simbang Gabi 2019

There is a story of a farmer who used an old horse to till his fields.

One day, the horse escaped into the hills. When the farmer’s neighbors sympathized with the old man over his bad luck, the farmer replied, “Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?

A week later, the horse returned with a herd of horses from the hills. This time the neighbors congratulated the farmer on his good luck. His reply was “Good luck? Bad luck? Who knows?

Then when the farmer’s son was attempting to tame one of the wild horses, he fell off its back and broke his leg. Everyone thought this was very bad luck. The farmer’s reaction: “Bad luck? Good luck? Who knows?”

Some weeks later, the army marched into the village and conscripted every able-bodied youth they found there. When they saw the farmer’s son with his broken leg, they let him off. Was that Good luck or Bad luck? Who knows!

My dear friends, bad things do happen to good people and at times we cannot understand why it should happen to us. Even those who achieved the highest educational attainment in this world cannot provide us the answer. If ever we get an answer, it will all be attributed to something that goes beyond the physical realm like –it is written in the stars, it is destiny or fate, or it is the will of the gods. But when people do not believe in the supernatural, they just say –who knows if it is bad luck or good luck?

Zechariah, the main actor in our Gospel (Luke 1: 67-79), was not alien to bad experiences, to failure, pain and frustration. He submerged himself in the negative weight of luck not knowing that what he considered bad luck would later turn into a blessing in disguise. He was old and had no children with his wife Elizabeth. It was big deal in those days to have children. In their culture, the family line ended when couples were found childless. They too considered that it was a blessing to have many children while it was a shameful thing to have no child at all. So Zechariah felt he was doomed as he would die childless. But it turned out that everything was a blessing in disguise. In his old age, God gave him a son to be named John. He was given a son who was not just an ordinary person but a precursor of Jesus. His only son John would play a vital role in preparing the way of the Lord. Thus, in our Gospel, we could feel how happy Zechariah was for having a son destined to greatness. Even Jesus Himself said something good about John, “I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John” (Luke 7:28).

My dear friends, our Gospel reminds us to stay calm and refuse to become devastated when things seem to fall apart or when everything seems to bring us bad luck. We have to trust God and believe He knows what is best for us. We have handled crises before and there has always been this assurance that there is no such thing as bad luck because in God, everything is a blessing in disguise. Amen.

8th Day of Simbang Gabi 2019

A young boy aged 9 lived with his father, mother and his 85-year-old grandfather. The grandfather, in his old age, had poor eyesight and was also rather feeble at his limbs. As such, porcelain bowls often slipped from his wrinkled hands when he was eating, much to the annoyance of his son and daughter-in-law.

On this day when the young boy was playing in the backyard of the big mansion they were staying in, his grandfather accidentally broke another porcelain bowl yet again, just a few feet away from where the boy was playing. Hearing the breaking sound of the bowl, the boy’s mother and father came rushing out of their room and stated chiding the grandfather on how clumsy and troublesome he was.

Deciding that he had had enough, the boy’s father commented to the boy’s mother, “Don’t worry. I know that all these bowl-breaking by the old man will never end so yesterday I told our butler to make a bowl out of the coconut husks found in our backyard.” With that, the boy’s father disappeared for a few moments before reappearing with a brown coarse-looking bowl carved out of an old coconut husk. He gave it to the old man who took over the coconut bowl silently.

It was at this moment when the parents heard a soft but clear grinding sound behind them. They turned around and saw that their 9-year-old son was playing with a metal spoon and a coconut husk. Unsure of what their son was doing, the father proceeded to ask his son, “Son, what are you doing with a spoon and the coconut husk?’ The boy looked up and with his gentle eyes and innocent voice, he replied to his father, “Oh I saw how papa gave grandpa the coconut bowl. I thought papa may also need this bowl in future when you are old. So I am making the bowl in advance for you.”

Children are gifts from God. They are born innocent and pure. But when they grow old, some of them remain good, others change for the better while still others for the worse. Yet, the problem in attitude lies not only when children grow old, but even at their young age, children nowadays talk about sex, pornographic movies on cable television, drugs, etc. Young as they are, they are already worldly. We may say that children have lost their innocence. They have lost their true identity as gifts from God. Why? This is so as there is a change in values among parents when it comes to parenting. Parents allow their children to be exposed early to the adult world thinking that it is better for them to learn early from adult experiences. What parents fail to foresee is that their children miss their age of protection.

Our Gospel (Luke 1: 57-66) tells us that when John was born, he was exposed to the adult world where their neighbors and kinsfolk were very involved at his birth. Thanks to his parents because they protected John by insisting that his name should be John despite the protest of the people. They said, “None of your kindred is called by this name.” The act of his parents to give the child the name John reminds all parents that young children should be given love and protection. They should show love to their children as love is the highest form of communication between parents and children. They have to give protection to children because the latter cannot yet protect themselves. In protecting them, they should protect them not only from physical threats but also from that which could rob them of their childhood. Parents should treat their children as a child. They should let their children play with them and be who they are in their presence. They should allow their children to confide in them and give them a hug. All these may be understood by parents if they read Proverbs 22: 6 stating, “Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

May all parents then today learn from Zechariah and Elizabeth to love and protect their children. Amen.

7th Day of Simbang Gabi 2019

A famous actor often referred to a special day in his childhood when his father took him fishing. The day was fixed in his mind, and he often reflected upon many things his father had taught him in the course of their fishing experience together. After having heard of that particular excursion so often, it occurred to his cousin much later to check the diary that the actor’s father kept and determine what had been said about the fishing trip from the parental perspective. Turning to that date, the reader found only one sentence entered: “Gone fishing today with my son; A DAY WASTED.”

Being a father is different from being a mother. A father has a different approach to raise children than a mother does. A child learns from his father without his father knowing it. A father influences his child without him realizing it. He/she learns about what a man is from his/her father. He/she may either want to be like his/her father or to be his exact opposite.

In our Gospel (Matthew 1: 18-25), Joseph was told by an angel in his dream to take Mary as his wife and to father God’s only Son –Jesus. Although God could take care of His Son with all His power, He still chose Joseph to play the role of a foster father of Jesus. Why? Joseph was obedient to God. Jesus could learn from him through his example. As any child looks to his/her father to lay down the rules and enforce them, the former learns what it means to obey. But he/she sincerely learns to obey only when he/she sees his/her father as his/her model or idol. If not, then he/she obeys only because of fear.

Jesus, like His human father Joseph, grew up obeying His Father God. Philippians 2: 6-11 states, “Though he was in the form of God, Jesus did not count equality with God, a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled himself and became obedient unto death.” Joseph, though human as he was, never failed God to be the father of Jesus as he passed on to Him what it takes to obey God.

We pray then that all fathers teach their children how to obey God by giving them examples. We pray then that all fathers find Joseph as their model in parenting their children. Amen.

6th Day of Simbang Gabi 2019

Devina Nund wrote this beautiful story about mothers:

When God created woman, he was working late on the 6th day...

An angel came by and asked, “Why spend so much time on her?” The lord answered, “Have you seen all the specifications I have to meet to shape her?”

“She must function in all kinds of situations, she must be able to embrace several kids at the same time, have a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee to a broken heart.

She must do all this with only two hands, she cures herself when sick and can work 18 hours a day.”

The Angel was impressed. “Just two hands...impossible! And this is the standard model?” The Angel came closer and touched the woman.

“But you have made her so soft, Lord.”

“She is soft,” said the Lord, “But I have made her strong. You can't imagine what she can endure and overcome.”

"Can she think?” The Angel asked...The Lord answered, "Not only can she think, she can reason and negotiate."

The Angel touched her cheeks..."Lord, it seems this creation is leaking! You have put too many burdens on her."

"She is not leaking...it is a tear," The Lord corrected the Angel...

"What's it for?" Asked the Angel...The Lord said, "Tears are her way of expressing her grief, her doubts, her love, her loneliness, her suffering and her pride."...

This made a big impression on the Angel, "Lord, you are a genius. You thought of everything.

A woman is indeed marvellous"

Lord said, "Indeed she is. She has strength that amazes a man. She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens. She holds happiness, love and opinions. She smiles when she feels like screaming. She sings when she feels like crying, cries when happy and laughs when afraid. She fights for what she believes in.

Her love is unconditional. Her heart is broken when a next-of-kin or a friend dies but she finds strength to get on with life."

The Angel asked, "So she is a perfect being?"

The lord replied: "No. She has just one drawback, she often forgets what she is worth."

My dear friends, this story reminds us of the meaning of being a mother. A mother is selfless –one who sacrifices her wants, needs and ambitions as long as the wants, needs and ambitions of her children are fulfilled and satisfied. Her reward is being a mother herself. It is not the medal or certificates that can make her happy but the arms of her children who hug or embrace her.

Hear and see the experience of two mothers in our Gospel (Luke 1: 39-45). Mary and Elizabeth were both happy because they were now ready to be called mothers. They rejoiced because of the baby in their womb. How fulfilling it was for them to become mothers. All they did was to talk about their baby. This is the true meaning of being a mother –selfless. Why? Everybody can notice that she changes her name when she gets married. She leaves her own home and moves in a home with her husband. She gets pregnant which changes her body and risks her own life in the labor room. After she delivers her baby, she knows it comes from her yet it does not bear her surname. Everything she does from the birth of her child until the child grows mature is for the benefit of the said child and sometimes she does this at the expense of her needs and ambitions.

Today, we continue to pray for all our mothers. We thank God for creating mothers because it is never easy to be one. During this Simbang Gabi, we resolve before the altar of the Lord to understand and respect our mothers. We give them thanks for the priceless gift of motherhood God has blessed us. Amen.

5th Day of Simbang Gabi 2019

A little boy came up to his mother in the kitchen one evening while she was fixing supper, and handed her a piece of paper that he had been writing on. After his mom dried her hands on an apron, she read it, and this is what it said:

For cutting the grass: Php 50

For cleaning up my room: Php 20

For taking out the garbage: Php 30

Total owed: Php 100

Well, his mother looked at him standing there, and the boy could see the memories flashing through her mind. She picked up the pen, turned over the paper he had written on, and this is what she wrote:

For the nine months I carried you while you were growing inside me: No charge

For all the nights that I’ve sat up with you, doctored and prayed for you: No charge

For all the trying times, and all the tears that you’ve caused through the years: No charge

For all the nights that were filled with dread, and for the worries I knew were ahead: No charge

For the toys, food, clothes and even wiping your nose: No charge

Son, when you add it up, the cost of my love is: No charge

When the boy finished reading what his mother had written, there were big tears in his eyes, and he looked straight at his mother and said, “Mom, I sure do love you.” And then he took the pen and in great big letters he wrote: “Paid in Full”.

This story tells us about a mother’s special kind of love. No words can explain what a mother’s love is. It is totally unselfish. It always thinks of her children. Nothing and nobody can take away a mother’s love for her children.

In our Gospel (Luke 1: 26-38), the angel Gabriel announced to Mary that she was chosen to be the mother of God’s only son Jesus. When Mary learned about this, she accepted it without fear of its consequences. During her time, a woman who became pregnant out of wedlock should be terrified about her plight. It was an accepted norm that children should be born within marriage. Thus, when found pregnant outside marriage, the woman would be forced to leave her home and her family. If she would leave home but had no way of supporting herself, then it would be possible that she would eventually end up as a prostitute. If she would stay, she would be stoned to death the moment people learned about her state.

But Mary was pregnant while betrothed to Joseph, could this mean she would spare her life? No. In ancient Judaism, betrothal was a temporary period between the covenant of marriage itself and the time of living together. Therefore, she was considered legally married to Joseph during such intervening period. The Jewish Law (halakha) forbids a man to continue living with an adulterous wife and he is obliged to divorce her. If found guilty of adultery, the wife would be stoned to death as a punishment. This would be the legal consequence that Mary would suffer when she accepted the call to become the mother of Jesus. Yet Mary accepted to become the mother of Jesus out of her love for God. Because God knew how Mary loved, so she was chosen to mother His only Son. Her love gave her the courage to face what other women of her time feared of –to be stoned to death either for getting pregnant out of wedlock or for being accused of adultery. Mary showed how great her love is as a mother and every mother would be wise to follow her example. She was so disposed to love unconditionally that when the angel appeared to her saying, “You will bear a son,” with deep love she replied, “Let it be done according to your word.”

Today’s Simbang gabi, we pray for all mothers to love God with all their heart and respond to God’s call favorably just like what Mary did. Children are gifts from God, and every mother should know how to love them no matter what the consequence is for having them. Without love, any woman would end her pregnancy in abortion or infanticide. Without love, any woman would not care for her unborn child; never would she bother to give the child proper medical check-ups. Worst, she would not avoid smoking, drinking liquors or any drugs which could have a harmful effect to the child. She would avoid the burden of motherhood or lone parenting. We thus pray today to God to bestow His grace to all mothers, to overshadow them with the Holy Spirit, so that they would not find their life with their children burdensome. May Mama Mary be their guide as a mother. Amen.

4th Day of Simbang Gabi 2019

British sprinter Derek Redmond held the British record for the 400 meters’ sprint and won gold medals at the World Championships and European Championships. However, his career was visited by a series of injuries. At the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, he had qualified for the semifinal of the 400 meters with the fastest time in his heat, he was looking strong when suddenly he pulled up because his hamstring had torn. Rather than crumble to the ground, he continued hobbling toward the finish line. His father ran down to stop him because the former was worried that the latter was going to carry on in pain and such could cause greater damage to his injury. Derek refused. “Well then,” his father said, “we’re going to finish this together.” It was true, both the father and son finished the race.

My dear friends, what made this story special is that it brings into focus not just the fighting spirit of the said athlete but more on the nature of parenthood. Derek’s father supported him and he did not cast doubt on what his son would be able to accomplish despite the physical impossibility on the part of the son. This is made obvious in the message sent by a Canadian athlete to Derek: “Long after the names of the medalists have faded from our minds, you will be remembered for having finished, for having tried so hard, for having a father to demonstrate the strength of his love for his son. I thank you, and I will always remember your race and I will always remember you –the purest, most courageous example of grit and determination I have seen.”

My dear friends, our Gospel (Luke 1: 5-25) tells us about the story of a father named Zechariah. Like St. Joseph, he received a divine message by God through an angel. But unlike St. Joseph, he was not submissive to accept the angel’s message. He was told that he would father a son. Yet, he dared to doubt it saying, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.” For this reason, he was punished by the angel. He was made silent and unable to speak until the day that the message came true. Why Zechariah was punished? It is said that because he doubted that he deserved to be punished. If he doubted the message from God, then how could such a father believe that his son would be a messenger of God? What kind of faith would he pass on to his son? Being a father is not a matter of gender but a quality of parenting he can provide for his son. It is therefore better for him to be silent than to spread his doubt. His doubt, his manner and thought processes might rub off on his son.

Today, we pray for all fathers to learn from the experience of Zechariah. God wants that fathers should raise their children in faith. The primary task of a father is to let his children believe in God the way he believes Him. A father should provide them hope for the future and confidence to face challenges in life believing that everything happens under God’s will and command. Without knowledge of God, children will live with aggression or delinquent. 

Let us also thank God today for all the fathers who discipline their children; those fathers who instill among their children good values. We thank God for fathers who work so hard to provide their children’s daily needs, their food, shelter and clothing. We pray for fathers who untiringly work to support their families, who prioritize their families rather themselves, and who work away from home just to secure their families with a better future. Thereof, may all the fathers of the families always seek the will of God for their children. Amen.

3rd day of Simbang Gabi 2019

Teaching in a Graduate Class in Psychology, a professor asked one female student to write 30 names of most important people in her life on the blackboard. The student wrote names of her family members, relatives, friends and her neighbors.

The professor told her to erase three names that she considered least important. She erased the names of her neighbors. The professor again told her to delete five more names. She erased her friends’ names. This went on until there just four names left on the blackboard. These were names of her father, mother, husband and their only so.

Now, the professor told her to delete two more names.

It was a very difficult choice for the student. She unwillingly deleted her parent’s names.

“Please delete one more”, said the professor.

The student became nervous and with trembling hands and tears in her eyes she deleted her son’s name.

The professor then asked her, “Why your husband? Your parents nurtured you and your son is the one you gave birth to? And you can always find another husband!”

The student gently answered him, “One day my parents will pass before me. My son may also leave me when he grows old, for his studies or business or whatever reason. The only one who will truly share his entire life with me is my husband.”

Her classmates stood up and applauded for her for sharing this truth of life.

My dear friends, this story reminds us about the importance of a lifetime partner –a husband in particular. Each marriage is unique yet there are things which every wife desires from her husband. One of those is to have a husband who can always stand in her corner. Nowadays, many men have forgotten what it means to be a husband. They have forgotten their duties to their wife though they have been good fathers to their children.

The Gospel of Matthew (1: 18-25) tells us that Joseph was first chosen to be the husband of Mary. The angel said to him, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife.” This particular Gospel passage suggests that though Mary could raise Jesus alone just like what any single parent could do, yet God willed that His only Son should grow with a father and a mother. Mary needed to have someone at her side. She needed someone to be a shoulder she could lean on when times get tough. She needed a support that whatever trials might come to her life, she needed to feel the protection of a husband. Thus, this Gospel serves as a reminder for all husbands to stay committed to their wife like what St. Joseph did. Let us include then in our prayer during this Simbang Gabi, all the husbands here on earth, that they may realize their calling from God to be capable of going beyond for the sake of their wife, for their marriage and children. May they be able to stand out to let their wife fell secure under their protection. Amen.

2nd Day of SImbang Gabi 2019

When Ludwig Nobel died in 1888, a French newspaper mistakenly published Alfred Nobel’s obituary. Reading his own obituary Alfred was disgusted to find out his public image. The newspaper condemned him for inventing dynamite, giving him the infamous nickname Le marchand de la mort est mort (The merchant of death is dead) and went on to say “Dr. Alfred Nobel who became rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before died yesterday”.

To Alfred, this obituary was a warning. He spent his lifetime alone inventing things and was deeply disturbed and concerned with how he would be remembered. This unfortunate event inspired him to make alterations in his will, to improve his public image, and to be remembered for a good cause. In 1895, one year before his death, he composed the last will which specified that his fortune be used to create a series for prizes for those who confer the greatest benefit on making in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature and peace. He bequeathed 94% of his total asserts or US$186 million to establish the five Nobel Prizes.

Today, the Nobel Prize is considered as one of the most recognizable and prestigious awards possible, honoring men and women from all over the world for outstanding achievements in different fields. Now, the world has forgotten his dynamite legacy.

Such is the story of Alfred Nobel. But how about us? What is the legacy we want to leave behind after we live here on earth? How do we want people remember us when we are no longer here? Many of us if not all want to leave a mark on this world. We want people to know that our life matters; they are important in the history. We want to show the world that we have contributed something for the benefit of the present and future generations.

Our Gospel, Matthew 1: 1-17, speaks of two types of legacy –family legacy and spiritual legacy. What a family legacy that is to belong to the house of Abraham and to the house of David. What a spiritual legacy that is to be chosen by God as instrument of His salvation. Family legacy and spiritual legacy are equally important if not more important than social legacy. Social legacy focuses more on what one can do for the society in order for the said society to remember him/her. Superior to social legacy, family and spiritual legacies are there not just for the sake of remembrance but to pass on a set of beliefs and values. Young generations see God the way their ancestors saw God. Moreover, with family and spiritual legacies, children also see God the way they see their parents. If their parents are loving, children will think of God that way –that God loves them above all else.

Today, I encourage everyone to pass along a family legacy and spiritual legacy. We pass a family legacy and spiritual legacy which are more than encouraging young generations to attend mass. This means we make spiritual activities a routine part of family life. Just like when we celebrate Simbang Gabi, how good it is to go to church as a family. Make Simbang Gabi a family legacy and spiritual legacy –to make this practice live on after we are gone. My dear friends, we only live our best life by creating a legacy that God can be proud of. Amen.

1st Day of Simbang Gabi 2019

Once upon a time, there was a small town. There lived a man by himself who couldn’t see. He was blind. Yet, he carried a lighted lamp with him whenever he went out at night.

One night as he was coming home after having a dinner outside, he came across a group of travelers. They saw that he was blind, yet carrying a lighted lamp. They started passing comments on him and made a fun of him. One of them asked him, “Hey man! You are blind and can’t see anything. Why do you carry the lamp then?”

The blind man replied, “Yes, unfortunately, I am blind and I can’t see anything but a lighted lamp which I am carrying is for the people like you who can see. You may not see the blind man coming and end up pushing me. That is why I carry a lighted lamp.”

The group of travelers felt ashamed and apologized for their rude behavior.

Dear friends, this story reminds us of the importance of light. It is not only used by one to find his way while he is surrounded with darkness. Rather, it is also used to highlight one’s presence just like tracking an actor or actress around the stage.  

In our Gospel, Jesus told His audience, “John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and people chose for a time to enjoy his light”. In other words, Jesus was telling them that John carried the light not for his own sake but for the Son of God. John carried the light to show to people who Jesus is. Yet instead of looking at Jesus, people chose to look at the light carried by John. They missed the point. This also happens to some Catholics nowadays. Some Catholics enjoy the unique experience of Simbang Gabi but they miss to look at Jesus Christ. They celebrate Christmas but they do not even have the time to thank God for giving the world Jesus Christ, the birthday celebrator.

Why do we have Christmas? It is to celebrate the birthday of Jesus Christ! Why do we have to celebrate His birthday? Well, God sent Him to the world for the forgiveness of sins so that all will be saved. This is the reason why we rejoice. This is the reason why we celebrate. In celebrating Christmas, we Catholics have the Simbang Gabi as our spiritual preparation. Simbang Gabi is known as Misa de Gallo or Mass of the Rooster because the rooster or cock crows as early as three o’ clock; it wakes people up and gives them enough time to prepare for the four o’ clock mass in the morning. It is also known as Misa de Aguinaldo because the act of waking up early in the morning to hear mass is somewhat a form of sacrificial offering to God. The particular gesture is a gift or “aguinaldo” to God, thanking Him for giving Jesus Christ to the world, His only beloved Son. It is known as Simbang Gabi because the mass starts while the sky is dark and it ends while the sun is about to rise and shine. Simbang Gabi is celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary who gave birth to God’s only Son Jesus Christ. It is also celebrated for the perseverance of Filipinos in the faith. Therefore, this is not just a tradition or religious obligation for nothing but for us to keep our faith –that Jesus is the reason why we celebrate this season. Jesus Christ is the Son of God who became man to save the world. Let us then begin today our first day of Simbang Gabi rejoicing in the Lord Jesus above all else  Amen.

1st Day of Simbang Gabi 2019

Once upon a time, there was a small town. There lived a man by himself who couldn’t see. He was blind. Yet, he carried a lighted lamp with him whenever he went out at night. 

One night as he was coming home after having a dinner outside, he came across a group of travelers. They saw that he was blind, yet carrying a lighted lamp. They started passing comments on him and made a fun of him. One of them asked him, “Hey man! You are blind and can’t see anything. Why do you carry the lamp then?” The blind man replied, “Yes, unfortunately, I am blind and I can’t see anything but a lighted lamp which I am carrying is for the people like you who can see. You may not see the blind man coming and end up pushing me. That is why I carry a lighted lamp.” 

The group of travelers felt ashamed and apologized for their rude behavior. 

Dear friends, this story reminds us of a reality that there is a reason for one why he does what he does. In our Gospel, Jesus was teaching in the temple. Instead of asking for the reason why he was doing what he was doing, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the Jewish authorities asked Him who allowed Him to do what he was doing. Jesus did not directly give them His answer because He knew they were not searching for the truth of the matter. He often told them before that He was sent by God, yet they would not believe Him. Jesus therefore refused to answer their question. It is best to put an end to a useless argument before it begins. Jesus knew that he did what he was doing was the will of God. 

Now, in our case as a Catholic, we can hear from Non-Catholics why we go to mass for nine consecutive days known as Simbang Gabi or Misa de Aguinaldo or Misa de Gallo (Mass of the Rooster). Why do we do what we are doing? What is the reason for all these? 

Well, this practice can be traced back to year 1668, when the Spanish friars held mass early in the morning to allow the farmers to attend the said celebration (of the mass) before they set off to work in the fields. It is known as Misa de Gallo or Mass of the Rooster because the rooster or cock crows as early as three o’ clock, it wakes people up and gives them enough time to prepare for the four o’ clock mass in the morning. It is also known as Misa de Aguinaldo because the act of waking up early in the morning to hear mass is somewhat a form of sacrificial offering to God. The particular gesture is a gift or “aguinaldo” to God, thanking Him for giving Jesus Christ to the world, His only beloved Son. It is known as Simbang Gabi because the mass starts while the sky is dark and it ends while the sun is about to rise and shine. 

But why do we have the Simbang Gabi? My dear friends, Simbang Gabi is a spiritual preparation for Christmas, for the birthday of Jesus. It is celebrated in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is also celebrated for the perseverance of Filipinos in the faith. Therefore, this is not just a tradition or religious obligation for nothing but for us to keep our faith. Let us then see to it that as we begin today our first day of the Simbang Gabi, we know why we do what we are doing. We know the reason why. Amen.

Jomar and Hanna's Wedding

Jomar and Hanna, your love is what this wedding is all about; but we cannot celebrate this without God. God has been your light during the time when all you have seen in life is darkness. God has been your light that is why you have found love in each other despite the said darkness in your lives. 

Remember Jomar your experience of love. It was not always convenient to love and be loved. Remember too Hanna your experience of love. It was distressing rather than exciting. But a love from God comes to both of you just when you need it the most.  

Jomar and Hanna, you were schoolmates then at Aklan State University but you never thought of this wedding; that this would be celebrated between the two of you. When you initially took your master's degree in the same university, still you  did not have any idea that you are meant to be for each other. Both of you are teachers yet when it comes to love, you are just learners. You learn that it is not through searching, not even through seeking, that you can find love. Rather, it is in believing that God sends you the love you need long before you ask for it. It is in God's grace that love is said to come at the right time with the right person. By this reason, love comes to you as a miracle; love is God's blessing to you. 

Therefore, Jomar and Hanna, always remember that without God, there can be no love between the two of you. Without love, there can be no wedding to celebrate for the two of you.  You celebrate this wedding, neither as a matter of convenience nor out of excitement, but as a sign of love that comes from God with a commitment to establish your conjugal as well as your family life. It likewise demands the concomitant duty to love each other. It demands your full and undivided fidelity to each other and to no other. In doing so, you need God's grace. Human as you are, you have your imperfections despite your best intention to love and be loved. So ask God everyday to bless you with His gifts of trust, compassion, forgiveness and truth. Pray together so that you may live and grow together in love. Pray so that you will receive what Jesus has promised to those who know how to love, that His joy may be yours and your joy may be complete.  

To end, Jomar, you have the reason to rejoice in God as you finally have found your one true love. Hanna, you have the reason to rejoice in God too as your prayer has been answered to marry the right man today. Amen.

1st Sunday of Advent 2019

In an old song Whose Birthday is Christmas by The Statler Brothers, a little child asked, “Oh daddy just who’s birthday is Christmas, the Bible says that Jesus was born. Oh daddy please explain, I had to ask because you hear so much about Santa Clause, Silver bells and ceder smells don’t tell the story of the virgin and the manger where He lay; festive drinks and glasses klinks will not make Jesus proud to say that this is His Birthday”.

To miss the true meaning of Christmas is the evil which is sought to be avoided by any Christians. Christmas is not just about giving gifts. It is not just about love. It is the birthday of Jesus the Christ. Many people during the time of Jesus missed the day he was born. If they only learned that it was Jesus whom Mary was about to give birth, they could have offered homage to him. But they had not.

Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew 24: 37-44 said that one must be ready for the Son of man is coming at an hour he/she does not expect. This is the reason why we Catholics have this so-called Advent season. We prepare ourselves to celebrate the birthday of Jesus. It is the birthday of Jesus. What gift then can we give to him? If everything we have is from God, then what do we have to offer to Jesus who is the Son of God? Well, the only thing which does not come from God is our sins. We can offer our sins to him. We can give them up to him. In doing so, we do not miss the meaning of Christmas as the birthday of Jesus. He was born to save us from our sins. In offering our sins before him, we accept the salvation he has brought us with his birth.  

On this first Sunday of Advent, may we all have the time to confess our sins as we prepare to celebrate the birthday of our Lord Jesus. Amen.

Christ the King 2019

The story is told that Alexander and a small company of soldiers approached a strongly fortified walled city. Alexander, standing outside the walls, raised his voice and demanded to see the king. When the king arrived, Alexander insisted that the king surrender the city and its inhabitants to Alexander and his little band of fighting men.

The king laughed, "Why should I surrender to you? You can’t do us any harm!" But Alexander offered to give the king a demonstration. He ordered his men to line up single file and start marching. He marched them straight toward a sheer cliff.

The townspeople gathered on the wall and watched in shocked silence as, one by one, Alexander’s soldiers marched without hesitation right off the cliff to their deaths! After ten soldiers died, Alexander ordered the rest of the men to return to his side. The townspeople and the king immediately surrendered to Alexander the Great. They realized that if a few men were actually willing to commit suicide at the command of this dynamic leader, then nothing could stop his eventual victory.

Today, we celebrate the feast of Christ the King. If Christ is our king then we must be his people, his soldiers, his army. If we are his soldiers, then we expect to be wounded whenever we battle for him or fight with him.

In 2004, I was in my lowest point of my life when people rejected me, criticized me and even accused me of anything to excruciate me. I asked myself whether I deserved this or not by standing for the Gospel. I stood for the truth. But people spread lies about me. I was depressed. No friends approached me during those times because they were afraid to get involved with my sad fate. But one night while I was riding my motorcycle I saw one tricycle with a signboard “God loves you” and another with a signboard “God is King.” I realized that as a soldier of Christ, I must expect that I might get wounded in a battle. I realized that I must be willing to fight and die for my King. If Christ is our King, I might sustain injuries but I should still listen to his commands no matter what I feel about myself.

Today, we have to know our place. Christ is our King, we are his people, his army, his soldiers obeying his command.

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

When Fr. Jerry Orbos and his companions first donned their cassocks, their novice master reminded them to make sure to wear a smile along with them. Also, he taught them a very simple lesson –that if they missed one button, they would have to go back and button it up and do the rest all over again.

This shared experience of Fr. Orbos reminds us that whatever is made wrong must be corrected or else the wrongful doing will continue. Eventually, it shall be shown. Just like in our Gospel of Luke 18: 9-14, Jesus said that the Pharisee prayed to God believing that he did not commit any wrong. He did not notice that he was too self-righteous amounting to his commission of sin. He was over-confident to attain salvation through his own effort and merits. Nobody attempted to correct him his ways. So Jesus said, the Pharisee was not justified unlike the tax collector in his parable. The tax collector was justified because he knew he had done wrong and he asked for God’s mercy to correct him. It is better for us to be like the tax collector who admitted before God our shortcomings so that we will not perpetuate a wrong and be saved not according to our efforts but according to God’s mercy. Amen.

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

In the Book, Moments of Fr. Orbos, there is this story of a sibling rivalry between Michelle and Michael. Their mother thought they would outgrow it, but it got worse as the years went by. She said the greatest pain in their hearts as parents is to see their children not getting along. All they could do was pray, and pray they did.

Then one day, in a retreat, her daughter broke down and lamented having everything in this world except the love and care of her Kuya Michael. That broke ice. Michael went to his sister and embraced her, telling her how much he loved her though he never expressed it.

For their mother, she believed prayers work. Prayer can melt the hardest of hearts.

This too is the message conveyed by the Gospel of Luke 18: 1-8. Prayer pays off. This is true for those who trust in God. Instead of losing one’s heart, Jesus reminds us to have faith, that kind of faith which does not give up praying and believing until we get what we pray for. Like the widow in the Gospel, we are called to pray unceasingly.

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fr. Jerry M. Orbos once revealed his encounter with the late Speaker Ramon Mitra who faced cancer before his death. He said Ramon Mitra told him, “I cannot ask for more. I have been blessed much. I have done my very best. I have forgiven all who hurt me, and I have asked for forgiveness for my offenses. I’m ready to face my God. I shall be with Him soon…”

This experience of Fr. Orbos with Mitra would remind us of the Gospel of Luke 17: 11-19. Among the ten lepers whom Jesus healed, only one went back to give him thanks while praising God. Jesus wondered then where were the other nine. It seems gratitude or giving thanks is very difficult to do for most people who have received favor from God or their fellowmen. For people who show ingratitude, they think it is important that they already get what they want. If they cannot get what they want for free, they may offer to pay the price for it. They forget there are things which money cannot buy, and for things freely given only a word of thanks can satisfy.

Gratitude is an act of recognition that one cannot depend solely on himself/herself and he/she needs the help or favor from someone. Proud people do not do this. They think they deserve everything that is good, they seldom ask for help and so they are not used to give thanks to people or even to God.

Being grateful is a virtue. Only a humble person who believes that everything is grace can give thanks. Only a person who receives kindness which he/she thought he/she does not deserve though he/she needs it, can give thanks to God. Now, can we give God our thanks?

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fr. Jerry M. Orbos once told a story about one of those “Walk with God” pilgrimages he did on foot to Manaoag, Pangasinan every first Saturday in May and October. He saw among the walking pilgrims a couple carrying a frail and really tiny baby grasping for breath. Faith, simple and pure, was written on the face of the father as he asked him to bless the child. The priest learned that the hospital had given up on the child and told them to take the child home, but instead they had joined the 3 ½ hour walk to Manaoag. Orbos’ friend Sonny Sison told him that the child was healed. That was some six years ago, and the parents continued to join the walk every May and October, with the child walking with them.

This story tells us about how faith works. There will be miracles for a man who has faith. But how does faith really work? In the Gospel of Luke 17: 5-10, the apostles said to Jesus to increase their faith. But Jesus did not directly answer them, rather he told them that even with a small faith, miracles may happen to a person who believes in God. But what is equally important is that faith leads one to listen and obey God. Even if the person with faith cannot see miracles, it is important that he listens and obeys the will of God whatever that means. Jesus had these words at the end, “So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” Therefore, faith is not only good when people see miracles, but also when people yield to the will of God.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Fr. Jerry M. Orbos once told a story that he listened to an old man sobbing unashamedly like a child, pouring out the pain in his heart. All his years of hard work and his accumulated wealth had backfired on him. His six children were not united but were envious and jealous of each other. Three of them had not spoken to one another for years. But the source of his heaviest grief was the thought that his children loved him only because of the properties he would leave behind.

In Fr. Jerry’s story, there is an absence of love among the children as well as between the children and their parent. The absence of love gives rise to selfishness. Selfish people tend to take advantage of everything for himself even if this means he would treat other people not as human beings but as properties or things. In this world, selfish people forget to be responsible for their actions as long as their wants are satisfied. They do not care about the needs of others. They are not aware that after they die, they have to face the judgment of God. This is what the Gospel of Luke 16: 19-31 tells us. Selfish people go to hell because hell is a place where there is no love to be found. People in hell have no more chance to enter heaven. Heaven is only for people who know what love means. The Gospel puts emphasis on this saying, “And besides all this, between us and you a great chasm has been fixed, in order that those who would pass from here to you may not be able, and none may cross from there to us.” Therefore, we have to know whether we stand closer to hell or to heaven by looking at our hearts whether there is love or selfishness. Amen.

On the Feast of the Archangels

Good afternoon. I am grateful to receive a letter of information that the Sto. Niño Seminary College Department has unanimously chosen me to be the resource speaker for today’s event –the Annual College Day in honor of the Archangels of God. Although the letter fails to mention if you are inviting me after you have unanimously chosen me to be a resource speaker, I just presume that the letter is also a letter of invitation that is why I am now here.

Now that I am here, I cannot but question myself, “Makakaya ko ba?” In talking to seminarians especially to the young philosophers, one must have a talent to be able to get their attention or else they feel bored and fall into sleep. Honestly, I do not have such a talent. Well, let the archangels help me speak to you today.

Seminarians of our Dear Sto. Niño, in your letter, I have been asked to choose between these two topics or both topics. One is about the Roles of Being a Shepherd in the Seminary and the other is about the Existence of Archangels and its Significance in our Lives as Believers of the Roman Catholic Church.

With regard to the first topic, the Roles of Being a Shepherd in the Seminary, I cannot talk about this because I am not privy anymore to the seminary formation. I have spent most of my 18 years of priesthood in various parishes and I have no personal knowledge about shepherding the semmillennials or millennial-seminarians like you. The best resource speaker for this topic is no other than your seminary formators. They have their firsthand experience of being shepherds in the seminary.

With regard to the second topic, I have no more choice but to talk about it. In the title, The Existence of Archangels and its Significance in our Lives as Believers of the Roman Catholic Church, the word “existence” is in the nominative case while “archangels” is in the genitive case. What word then shall be treated as the main subject of the title? Of course, the word “existence” is the subject. It follows then that the words “its significance” refer to the subject “existence.” In short, we talk about existence first before we talk about the significance of existence.

Seminarians of our Dear Sto. Niño, if you already believe in the existence of the archangels, what difference shall it make to you when I talk about the significance of their existence? The moment you believe that they exist, you could have known their significance to you. You know there are two statues of archangels outside this chapel, that they exist. Are those statues significant to you?

Nevertheless, let me do the task to present the topic you have entrusted me to explain and expound today. To do this, we have to establish two kinds of fact i.e., factum probans and factum probandum. Factum probandum is the fact in issue while factum probans is the fact that tends to prove the fact in issue. In the title, the fact in issue or factum probandum is the existence of Archangels. The factum probans is the evidence of their existence. In common parlance, let me ask you, “Does Sem. Adrian Rommel S. Carpio exist?” What is your best evidence to prove his existence? Of course, he himself is enough for us to believe that he exists. But unlike Sem. Carpio, we cannot produce the body of an archangel to prove its existence. In truth, archangels are heavenly spirits. Only a fool will bring a body in this chapel and claim that the said body belongs to an archangel. So what is our evidence? As a Catholic, our evidence is the Bible. Since the Bible is the Word of God, it is authoritative. The Bible testifies to the existence of archangels. Archangels are not mythical creatures like Medusa, Cyclopes or Poseidon because they have genuine existence. However, the word “archangel” itself is nowhere to be found in the Old Testament while in the New Testament the word “archangel” appears only twice. One is in generic term in the 1^st letter of Paul to the Thessalonians 4: 16 and the other is specific in the Epistle of Jude 1:9 which identifies Michael as the archangel. In this sense, only Michael is the only archangel mentioned in the Bible.

If Michael is the only archangel mentioned in the Bible, how come that we believe in more than one archangels? This is so because of the name Michael found in the Book of Daniel 10:13. Michael is said to be one of the chief princes. This Old Testament word “chief prince” may be transliterated as “chief angel”. The word for chief in Greek is arkh, while the word messenger in Greek is angelos. As Michael is just one of the chief angels, it means there are other chief angels.

But how come we know there are seven archangels? It is because in the Book of Tobit 12:15 Raphael claimed that he is one of the seven angels who stand in the glorious presence of the Lord. Another angel named Gabriel claimed too that he stands before God (Luke 1:19). The Book of Revelation 8:2-6 also asserts there are seven angels who stand before God.

The Bible speaks of seven angels and not seven archangels, so why do we say they are archangels? Well, archangels are angels. But not all angels are archangels. Some are Seraphim, Cherubim, Thrones, Dominions, Virtues, Powers, Principalities and Guardian angels. As Raphael and Gabriel stand before God, they are similarly situated with Michael who also stands before God; thus they should be recognized in the same way as archangels like Michael. The other names of the archangels are not found in the Bible and their names vary.

With regard to their names, notice that they all carry the suffix EL which means God. In the Old Testament, at times God is addressed as El Shaddai. El means God, shaddai means mountain or wilderness. In a practice called Theophory, the name of God is embedded in a name. For the name Michael, we have El means God, while “Mikha” means no person; so Michael means no person is like God. For the name Raphael, it comes from the Hebrew word “Rapa” which means to heal, and El is God, so we have “God has healed.” For the name Gabriel, we have El as God, and “Gab” is strength, so we have God is my strength. How about the name lucifer? It comes from the word lux, lucis meaning the light, and from the verb fero, ferre meaning to bear or to bring. Even if lucifer is the light-bringer, there is no God in his name. He lives in hell after he fell from heaven.

Now, we come to the end of this talk by uncovering the significance of the existence of archangels in our lives. Dear seminarians, I can talk to you about the existence of archangels all the time, but it will be difficult for me to show you its significance. A latin maxim has this to state: Cogitum est in cognoscente secundum modum cognoscentis. A thing known exists in a knower according to the mode of a knower. The significance of a thing or persons depends on how you think, in what perspectives you consider them, and many other factors that can condition your thoughts, judgments and values. I cannot change your values unless you change your values. Yet, let me finish my talk in dealing with this topic. In the Old Testament, there was a man named Joshua (Joshua 5: 13-15). Joshua stood as a leader of the Israelites after Moses died. He had to lead the said Israelites into Canaan, the promised land. However, Jericho, the first city of Canaan, securely barred their gates from them. Joshua then looked for a solution. At that moment, he was near the city of Jericho, he saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua asked him, “Are you friend or foe?” “Neither one”, he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.” The archangel made it clear to Joshua that it is not about the archangel but it is about him. It is about Joshua, whether he is for God or not. Joshua then said to the archangel, “I am at your command. What do you want your servant to do?” After their conversation, Joshua and the Israelites won the Battle of Jericho.

In talking about the significance of the existence of archangels in our lives, we should know that it is not about the archangels but it is about us. They exist to remind us where we stand. Are we for God? If we are for God, then we should listen to the archangels. If we are for God, the archangels shall bring us the message from God. Their existence becomes significant for us if we are for God. As I have said, it is not about the archangels but it is about us. If we are for God, we do not ask, “Lord do you want me to serve you?” Rather, we say, “Lord, I will serve you.” 

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Gospel of Luke 16: 1-13 presents Jesus telling his disciples a parable about a dishonest steward who was commended for his skills. Jesus did not encourage his listeners to become dishonest rather he wished that his followers would use their skills for spiritual purpose. Instead of using one’s skill to take advantage of people, why not use it for something that is divine?

There is a story about a man who happened to pass by a burning home. He saw the firefighters could not manage to enter the house, to stop the fire and to rescue the two kids who were trapped in the house while their parents were crying for help. The man immediately ran to the door and was able to unlock it. He was able to let the kids got out of the house before the fire totally destroyed it. The parents thanked the man saying that he has a good heart for saving their kids. The man replied that he is not a good person. In fact, he was just released from prison after serving his sentence for ten years.

In this story, we may be able to understand when Jesus said, “I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings.”