9 Days

What kept you busy during the Christmas Season?

Decorating…Gift-wrapping…Caroling…Hide-and-seek w/ the godchildren… Shopping… Amusement…Travel…

Ultimately, Christmas is the most precious gift that we ever have, not because of the expensive gift and festive food, family reunion, 13th month pay, bonus; but because this is the Day that the Lord has made!

It's good that you enjoy the exchange gift, parties & all other favorite stuffs but I hope that everyone gets into the most essential along with the outpouring of many expected and unexpected blessings that came in different packages.

While everyone was on the festive mood, it would have been very rewarding if our praises and worship was on the top of our list beyond all the enjoyment. However to those who missed the opportunity of that most special moment, the Night Liturgy (Simbang Gabi) that is, let me share you something.

This luxury of worship on Holiday Season could only be found in the Philippines. The Night Liturgy (Simbang Gabi) is a 9-day Liturgical Celebration to commemorate the 9 final days of the Blessed Mother Concepcion prior to the Day of Jesus’ Birth. In our Parish where I had the opportunity to be with, the Priest instead of a homily, there has been a portrayal for every Gospel w/c message was dramatized in different values.

The first night talked about honesty wherein the tempter fails to motivate the child not to return the excess change he got from the store, emphasizing that we can be good in many forms.

Night follows showcased about being a good influence differentiating the safety in a good company and a remorseful life in a foolish choice.

Subsequently, the theme on the other night was on obedience to God's will portrayed by two mothers whose good relationship was destroyed by insecurity. In the long run, the good Angel was still victorious on motivating the other to help her enemy to recover from the ordeal when all her possessions were brought into dust.

Followed next was emphasis on the value of prayer wherein the two kids were very disappointed because of the prayers not granted. At the end of the day though, they were very grateful as they realized that their prayers were fulfilled not literally the same as they wanted it to be but in different form that they shall have appreciated.

Another night emphasized on humility of a child who's haughty towards her brother because of her noticeable intellect w/c her parents are proud of. Nonetheless, the good Angel won her when she made up her mind that she should have supported & shared her intelligence to her sibling instead of attacking his low I.Q. & comparing their capacity.

The 6th Liturgy portrayed the acceptance of the will of the Father where the siblings were dismayed because of their bankrupt business told by the father who had a cardiac arrest because of the disappointment from the uncompassionate children. The tempter never won the mother who listened to the Angel that their being charitable, good provider, active participation in the church & community service should not be taken against God. She believed the Angel that what they're going through was indeed a test of faith.

Next night dramatized the goodness of gratitude in w/c the man was enlightened that truly there's more to thank for beyond all his clamors on poverty which is nothing compared to the gift of life & good health that they have been consistently receiving together with the whole family.

The second to the last spoke on service w/c was played of an elderly looking for a transient home, who asked help from the strangers but just ignored her. The group of men who were busy gambling did not mind her either treating her as distraction. Two women were also available on sight but did not take the opportunity to help but rather denied the woman who's but a waste of time for them. Although she was in need, she's a woman whose insufficiency becomes the sufficiency of others when she sacrificed what she had by giving her shawl to give comfort to an elderly who's chilling because of the cold weather, and gave her food to the children who's crying of hunger. She died later on because of hunger and cold weather that others have supposed to suffer, but found her self in the bosom of the Eternal Dwelling of God because of her sacrificial death for the good of others. Guess what shall happen to those who thrash her away should they continue the same life_style_!

Finally, the 9th journey as guidance towards the holy life played the virtue on holiness where there was a portrayal of a teenager who's obsessed of becoming the like of Betty La Fea in beauty yet wealthy. All the more that she has been captivated when the tempter showed her the mock up of what she's going to be but later on disregarded the offer when the Angel showed the repercussions of her obsession. She decided, “The offer of beauty and wealth is very tempting but what’s the use of it if beyond all these is a destiny that is terrifying.

Friends, the essence of Christmas is Christ Himself whose infancy is the symbolism of a call to be like a child whose heart is not clouded by lawlessness but rather embodied with obedience andcomplete dependence on Him. Christmas is both for the children and adults alike contrary to the belief that it is for the children. In a sense, it is relative to the reality because Jesus Himself says "Let the children come to me and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. (Matthew 19:14), but only to stress out that the key to salvation is to be like a child who's character is pure and with complete trust and  dependence. Christmas symbolizes the beginning history of our salvation w/c is filled with love, humility, obedience and sacrifice that could be the same ultimate core values in our journey toward holiness, in our thoughts, in our plans, in our decision, in our actions.

Luke 2:8-14 Now there were shepherds in the region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock. The Angel of the Lord appeared to them & the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear. The angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For today in the city of David a Savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you; you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger. And suddenly, there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.

Matthew 1:21 Mary will bear a son & you are to name Him Jesus because He will save His people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Behold, the Virgin shall be with Child and bear a Son, & they shall name Him Emmanuel, w/c means "God is with us."