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.