CLAIMING OUR GIFTS

Eighth Day of the Misa de Gallo

Mal 3: 1 – 4, 23 – 24 / Ps 25 / Lk 1: 5 – 66

Christmas is never the same without gifts. For the children, they are very excited to receive gifts from Santa Claus on Christmas eve. For those who are working, aside from the 13^th month pay, they are also eager to receive other gifts like bonuses and other perks. Christmas parties are never complete without the exchanging of gifts portion. Even in malls these days, there are long lines of people at the gift wrapping areas. All these happen because this season is never complete without gifts.

In our Gospel today, the Zechariah and Elizabeth finally received a very important gift, their son, John the Baptist. After years of waiting for a child, today, Elizabeth gave birth to a baby boy. Indeed, a very precious gift. However, if we try to reflect deeply on the Gospel, we realize that there is something greater than the gift of John that the couple received. And this gift is the gift of God’s grace. Despite their old age, they experienced God’s grace to the maximum. As a response to such graciousness of God, Zechariah and Elizabeth claimed responsibility to their child. No wonder the name “John” means “God is gracious.”

A few weeks ago the Bishops of our country declared that this year until 2016, we shall celebrate the Year of the Family. The family is God’s gift for humanity. Pope Francis even highlighted the truth that “without family, without the warmth of home, life grows empty.” Thus, we have to value this gift of family. We must claim responsibility to the family that we have right now. Thus, for husbands who are here, please claim responsibility to your being a husband. Dili nga sulod sa balay, bana ka pero inig gawas nimo ulitawo ka. To the wives who are here, please claim responsibility to your being a wife. Atimana imong bana ug mga anak. Dili nga sige nalang nimo’g atimanon ang chismis ug libak. And you dear children, please claim responsibility to your being children in the family. Listen to your parents. Study well. Dili nga sige nalang mo’g paminaw anang imong uyab nga walay ayo ug barkada nga walay klaro. The family is a concrete manifestation of God’s graciousness to us. Let us claim responsibility towards such a gift.

Alongside the Year of the Family, our Philippine Bishops also declared this year until next the Year of the Eucharist. We all know that we will be hosting the 51^st International Eucharistic Congress. The Eucharist is another precious gift we have received from the Lord. It is so precious because as the Church tells us, the Eucharist is the “source and summit of our Christian life.” And so, let us claim responsibility towards the Eucharist. Our motivation in attending the Misa de Gallo should be our acceptance that we need God; that without Him we are nothing. Let us not use the Misa de Gallo as a time for us to ask for a wish and God will grant them to us on the last day. Kay kung bati gyud kag nawong, bisag pila pa ka misa de Gallo, dili gyud ka mogwapa o mogwapo. Mao angkona nalang gyud na!

My dear friends, Zechariah and Elizabeth received a very important gift today – God’s graciousness in the birth of John. We too have received gifts today – the family and the Eucharist. May we learn to claim full responsibility in these gifts.  After all, the Lord is always gracious. He will never stop loving us even if we have turned our backs on Him. Amen.

Photo taken from www.stelizcc.org