January 1

January 1, 2006. It's New Year according to the civil western calendar. But is this the reason why Catholics go to Mass? Is it to thank God for the year that was and to ask for his blessing for the year that is to be?

No.

January 1 is the solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. This solemnity is a reiteration of what took place on Christmas. It asserts the fact that the baby who was born in a stable is not only a man. He is also God.

No. She did not give the divinity to Jesus. She is only human. You can not give what you do not have. She can only give to Jesus her humanity.

How then can she be Mother of God? (We have to make use of philsophy here.)

Mothers do not carry human natures in their womb. What they carry in their womb are persons.

Mary did not carry in her womb a human nature. She carried a person. And this person is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. In St John's language, the Logos (Word). Hence, in the Angelus we pray: "And the Word was made flesh (human being) and dwelt among us."

It is important to note that the articles of faith about the Blessed Virgin and the celebrations in her honor are always in connection with Jesus Christ. True Marian devotion is Christo-centric.

To conclude, what does our faith tell us about Jesus Christ and Mary?

• That in Jesus, there is one Person, a divine Person, with two natures, human and divine.
• That Mary is the mother of God because she gave birth to the person Jesus who is God.

The Family

The Holy Family is not celebrated on a Sunday this year. It is celebrated on a weekday (December 30).

Here are some of thoughts about family and family life.

There are about 8 million Overseas Filipino Workers today. The upside of this phenomenon are: it keeps the economy afloat; a strong peso; and money for the family. But the downside is the weakening and even the breaking up of the family. Hence, the situation where one or both of the parents work abroad and the children are left behind under the care of one parent or of a relative should not persist for a long period of time.

My brother who works in the US has made it a priority to get his wife and children with him. He will be able to fulfill this priority by the first quarter of next year. He misses them. But more than that he realizes that his children are growing up and he must be part of their growing up years.

A young man shared with me this sad reality. Whenever his Dad returns from work abroad for vacation, he realizes that he can't carry on a conversation with him. Not because he doesn't want to, but because they do not know enough of each other to have a common topic to talk about.

Even when the child understands why the his parents have to be away, the emotional pain remains. Another young man said that his father is a captain of a ship. He was not there during significant moments in his life. He understands that he can't be present because of the nature of his job. But still, he says, I missed him in those moments.

Being acquainted with the school context, I have seen many instances where students with disciplinary or academic problems also have one or both parents working outside of the country. The correlation can not be ignored. Of course, these same students may still have these problems even with both parents around, but the difference is that the parents are here to deal with the situation in loving and firm manner.

The presence of parents then is important. But mere physical presence is not enough. If a parent is emotionally distant, he or she becomes an absent presence. Many fathers are an absent presence. But there are indications that this is changing as fathers become more involved in the raising of their children. They are no longer just providers. Even TV advertisements are becoming aware of this. An ad about diapers have fathers, not mothers, in it.

No matter how hard parents try, they are bound to fail in some way. They are, after all, imperfect. They can not hope to do it right all the time. But if after having done their best and their children do not turn out the way they hoped for, they shouldn't blame themselves saying, "Where did I go wrong?" Perhaps, they did not do anything wrong. Perhaps, it is their children who finally decided to take that path that is wrong.

Love. Peace. Joy.

What was the Christmas song that Michael Jackson popularized when he was younger? Give Love on Christmas Day. I remember our class singing that song for the Christmas program in school.

What is the most popular Christmas carol? It was first sung in German but has been translated into many languages. It was first sung at midnight Mass of Christmas and was accompanied by a guitar. The carol is Silent Night.

What Christmas carol invited people to rejoice? Joy to the World.

Love. Peace. Joy. They make up the spirit of Christmas.

Love

For God so loved the world that he sent his only Son so that those who believe in him may not perish but have everlasting life.

For parents and those who take care of young people, St. John Bosco said that it is not enough that you love them. They must feel that you love them. And for young people, the spelling of love would be t-i-m-e.

Christmas is an eminently family celebration. Without love that is hear-felt, the noche buena would be merely a sumptuous meal rather than a family feast.

Love has become a cliché. But love can find many expressions within the confines of the home. Opening one’s eyes would reveal endless possibilities. Bringing a pasalubong (gift given upon arriving home) to one’s kid brother or sister says “I love you enough to remember you”.

Peace

Isaiah calls Jesus the Prince of Peace. The angels sang: Glory to God in the highest and peace to his people on earth. Christ Jesus came to reconcile us to one another and to the Father.

Peace is not merely the absence of noise or violence. It is present when there is good will and harmony.

We may need to control our temper. We may need to exercise patience. We may have to keep watch over our tongues. More often than not, we use our tongues to hurt one another. We use our tongues in heated exchanges and quarrels.

Joy

The angel said to the shepherds: “I bring you good news of great joy. Today the Messiah is born for you in Bethlehem.”

Be joyful. Be glad. How? Many times making other people happy makes us happy, too. A small act of kindness for another human being is all it takes. I remember one Christmas day, a mother was boarding a jeepney (mode of public transport in the Philippines), perhaps to bring her three children to their ninongs and ninangs (godparents). She obviously needed help. She boarded the jeepney first and I helped her two children board after her. A small thing. But the smile of gratitude on her face made me feel good. It made me happy.

May the Baby Jesus bless you with love, peace and joy not only for this Christmas, but for always.

Happy Christmas.

Christmas Gift-giving

When I was young, I remember my Mom reminding me to hang a sock (my father’s sock) because Santa would be putting goodies there. In the morning I would run to where the sock hung. It was heavy with an apple, an orange, and chocolates (Pom poms, Baby Ruth, M&M’s, golden coins and candies (Life Savers). It was probably why I love chocolates even today.

Christmas was for me the time when I would receive lots and lots of gifts and goodies. I didn’t know it then but the giving of gifts was a continuation of the gift-giving that happened on that first Christmas. For God so loved the world that he gave us the greatest gift that he could possibly gift—his only Son.

We show our appreciation for the gifts we receive by putting them in a place of honor. A woman mounted an unfinished cross-stitch in the sala. It was her mother’s gift to her as she lay dying of cancer.

There is no other place of honor for Jesus, God’s gift to us, than in our hearts. When St. Dominic Savio resolved that Jesus and Mary will be his best friends, that was another way of saying that he was letting Jesus and Mary into his heart.

The Belen depicts the three kings offering their gifts to the Baby Jesus. The Drummer Boy was concerned about the gift that he would be bringing to the Savior. What gift would we bring to Jesus? Perhaps, more attention. Some watches would chime on the hour, every hour. Perhaps we could use that to stop a few seconds and turn our thoughts to Jesus.

A carol says that Love came down on Christmas day. Let Jesus be born again in our families. And the proof of Jesus’ presence is the love and caring that should be expressed and felt in our families. When you give your gift to your parents and to you brothers and sisters, why not do it while saying: “I love you, Mom.” “I love you, Dad.” “I love you, Louie.” “I love you, Erika.”

Christmas is a time of gift-giving. Another word for gift is ‘present’. While a present might be very appreciated, our presence would surely be more appreciated. But our presence should not be merely ‘being there’. It should above all be a loving presence.

Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year B)

THE ANNUNCIATION (Lk 1:26-38)

In the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth
Sixth month. 6th month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.
Gabriel. He was sent first to Zechariah and now to Mary.

To a virgin betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David.
Virgin. Girl who has reached the age for marriage
Betrothed. Engaged. In the Jewish custom, an engaged couple was already considered married, but they would live together only after a year.
David. Through Joseph, Jesus would be of the house of David. This would fulfill the promise that the Messiah would come from David’s line.

And coming to her, he (Gabriel) said,“Hail, full of grace!”
Hail. Also translated a rejoice. Indeed, there is reason for rejoicing because the promise of the Messiah would finally be fulfilled.
Full of grace. Or Favored One. Mary’s new name is “Favored One”.

But she was greatly troubled.
Mary could not understand why and how she was so favored by God.

Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus.
Jesus means Yahweh saves or Yahweh is my salvation.

And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived a son in her old age.
The pregnancy of Elizabeth is proof that the message of the angel was true.

Mary said, "Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word."
With humility Mary accepted the invitation of God. She knew that her Son would be God but she probably did not understand that fully. Hence, her acceptance (fiat) was an act of faith.

REFLECTION

Mary carried Jesus in her womb nine months. It is a unique grace and privilege. But to all of us, God can give the grace of carrying Jesus in our hearts, in our minds, in our eyes, in our ears and in our hands.

• Jesus in my heart. The grace of truly loving Jesus.
• Jesus in my mind. The grace of not forgetting Jesus.
• Jesus in my eyes. The grace of getting to know Jesus and of imitating his example.
• Jesus in my ears. The grace of listening to the teachings of Jesus in order to live them.
• Jesus in my hands. The grace of serving Jesus, of doing what Jesus wants and of doing all for Jesus.

Christmas in the Philippines: The Star Lantern

I took this article from a newspaper. I do not remember which newspaper and who the author was.

We have many old Christmas symbols. Probably the oldest is the Nativity scene, known by its Spanish name belen, or Bethlelem. This is a tradition that is believed to have originated way back in 1223 when St. Francis celebrated Christmas by depicting the Nativity scene complete with live donkey, sheep and ox. By the 17th century, the custom reached Spain, and a century later it was introduced in Mexico from where it was brought to the Philippines. Originally, the only human figures in the belen were the Holy Couple and the Holy Infant. The Three Kings were added during the Epiphany. Today, even the presence of the Three Kings is questionable for on May 9, 1969, the Vatican announced that 33 saints were being officially removed from the Calendarum Romanum. Among them were the Three Kings and St. Nicholas, the prototype of Santa Claus. Originally, gifts were exchanged on December 6, feast day of Saint Nicholas. The Dutch pronounced his name Sinter Klass and that is how St. Nicholas became Santa Claus.

In the Philippines, Santa Claus became the central figure of the Christmas celebration. Gifts were originally exchanged during the Feast of the Three Kings. This was to commemorate the homage that the wise men from the East paid to the Holy Infant that consisted of three gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. Today, gifts are exchanged on Christmas day and they are supposed to be presents, not from the Three Kings, but from Santa Claus.

But the truly indigenous Philippine Christmas symbol is neither the belen nor the Santa Claus. It is the star lantern, and that is a story in itself. The star lantern was the Filipino adaptation of the Mexican luminaria which was basically a clay jar with a star shaped hole. The luminaria was actually a clay lamp. When a candle was placed inside, a star representing that of Bethlehem glowed in the dark. This was placed outside every home as a sign that the Holy Couple who was in search of an inn was perfectly welcomed.

In the Philippines, for very practical reasons, the Mexican clay luminaria was transformed into a star lantern. It is so Filipino that of all the Christmas symbols, it is only the star lantern that has evolved into gigantic Christmas displays. In the Pampanga town of San Fernando, the Christmas lantern is not only gigantic in proportion, but more important is that it represents the collective work of the entire community. Men prepare the wooden frame; Women assess the costs and purchase the materials and children prepare the paper patterns. The only work by professionals is the complicated generator-powered lighting complex that will turn the lantern into a modern kaleidoscopic display. These colossal lanterns are placed in trucks and paraded around the town plaza before the Misa de Gallo. In San Fernando, some lanterns have a thousand live bulbs.

But in the ultimate analysis, it is still the simple star-shaped candle-lit lantern that is the true measure of any Philippine Christmas celebration. In his writings, Jose Rizal depicted a sad Christmas saying, "It was Christmas Eve but the town was sad. Not one paper lantern hung from the windows..." We hope this Christmas will not be that sad.

The Aguinaldo Masses in the Philippines

AGUINALDO MASSES (PHILIPPINES)

The nine-day (novena) Masses in preparation for Christmas begins on December 16. They are called Aguinaldo Masses or Misa de Gallo. Misa de Gallo is Spanish for Mass of the Rooster. The name is apt because the mass take place at dawn (4:30am is the common time) when roosters begin to crow. Aguinaldo is Spanish for gift. It calls to mind the gift of the magi, but above all Jesus who is the gift of God to his people.

For those who can not rise early, there is an alternative, the Simbang Gabi (Mass at night) which often takes place at 8pm. The Simbang Gabi Masses begin in the evening of December 15.

The liturgical color is white, in honor of the Blessed Virgin. The intention of these Masses is the perseverance of the nation in faith. The Glory to God in the Highest is sung as if in anticipation of Christmas.

DECEMBER 17-24

The liturgical readings are more directly concerned with the immediate preparation for Christmas. The message is the mystery of God’s love. The principal personages are John the Baptist, our Lady and St. Joseph.

Immaculate Conception

On Dec. 8, 1854, Pope Pius IX in the Bull "Ineffabilis Deus" proclaimed the dogma of the Immaculate Conception: "The Most Holy Virgin Mary was in the first moment of her conception by the unique gift of grace and privilege of the Almighty god, in view of the merits of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of mankind, preserved free from all stain of original sin."

Four years later in 1858, as if to confirm the dogma, our Blessed Mother made known herself to St. Bernadette in Lourdes as the Immaculate Conception.

400 years before the dogma was defined, Duns Scotus, a Franciscan Theologian, defended the reasonability of the dogma by saying: "God could do it; he ought to do it; therefore, he did it."

The dogma, while directly about the Blessed Mother, is not only about her. It is a privilege and grace granted her because of her unique vocation of Mother of God. Hence, everything about Mary is because of Jesus.

3rd Sunday of Advent

A MAN NAMED JOHN WAS SENT FROM GOD
(Jn 1:6-8, 19-28)

A man named John was sent from God.
John means "God has given grace". God gave a great grace to Zechariah and Elizabeth, John.

He came to testify to the light.
John would bring others to believe in Jesus. The first two disciples of Jesus were John's disciples. John would say: "Look, there is the Lamb of God!"

He (John) was not the light.
True, yet according to Jesus, John was a burning and shining lamp.

When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?”
The Jews here refer to the Jewish religious leaders hostile to Jesus.

He (John) admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.”
The Hebrew for Christ is messiah. He is the expected Savior. Hence, Jesus Christ means "Jesus the Savior".

So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?”
Because of the prophet Malachi, the Jews believed that Elijah would come back and prepare the Messiah's coming. They identified John the Baptists as Elijah because his clothing and his character was similar to Elijah's.

“Are you the Prophet?”
Based on Deuteronomy, the Jews also expected the Messiah to be another Moses. And Moses was considered to be THE prophet. Hence, the Messiah was to be the Prophet who woul repeat on a greater scale the wonders of the exodus.

He (John) said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord."
The Jews were exiled in Babylon. The prophet tells the people that as in the time of the Exodus when he led his people from Egypt through the desert to the Promised Land, God will now lead them from Babylon through the desert back to the Jerusalem.

John is now the voice preparing God's people for a new Exodus--from slavery to sin to freedom as children of God through the leadership of Jesus, the new Moses.

But there is one among you whom you do not recognize.
The Jews were spiritually blind. Hence, they do not recognize the Messiah.

Whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.
Jewish servants do not do this. Only slaves. Hence, the humility of John the Baptist. Later he would say: He (Jesus) must increase. But I must decrease."

MESSAGE

“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord.'"

How do we prepare for Christmas? John the Baptist tells us how. Let us put our lives in order. Let us set things aright. Let us turn away from sin and turn to God. Let us return to the right path.