SIMBANG GABI 2018
7
YEAR OF THE YOUTH
DECEMBER 22, 2018
Jesus, I trust in you!
The Magnificat is an impressive
song which oftentimes is unappreciated because when it is sung, we seldom get
past the first verse. Of course, Our Lady acknowledged that God has done mighty
things for her and therefore, all generations will call her blessed. But the song
is not just about what God has done for her. It was also about how God
intervened into human history and inverted its paradigms: “He has shown the
strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit. He has cast
down the mighty from their thrones and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled
the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty handed…” What
is wonderful about this song is that it was sung by a 15 year old girl. Such
concerns were way beyond the comprehension of a 15 year old. It was clearly
inspired by the Holy Spirit himself…for how else could a 15 year old sing of
these? I am of the opinion that the Magnificat is a clear reflection of the
Beatitudes that were declared by our Lord himself: the Lord himself declared the
blessedness of those who are accounted as negligible by the world.
A 15 year old girl singing a
prophetic song…shouldn’t this be the model of our young people? The Magnificat
is an invitation to all the youth to elevate their concerns beyond trivialities
like fashion, gadgets, and other self-centered issues. Look around you…are you
satisfied with what you see? Do you think that hunger and misery amidst a throw
away culture is really right? Do you think that it is right to get your way
simply because you are powerful? Apparently, the notorious bully of Ateneo
thinks that his taekwondo skills gives him the right to impose himself on
everybody whom he perceives is weaker than him. Is it right for a young 14 year
old like him to be abusive of the little power that he and his family has?
Young people, what are your concerns? Do these transcend your little world of
comfort? Are you capable of going beyond yourselves so that you can see the
misery of others? Say not that you are young…because the Kingdom of God is your
concern. You must contribute to the building of the Kingdom of God by using
what you have and who you are to make the world less miserable, less unjust,
less cruel. Your youthful idealism must drive you to seek for a better world
and in the end, “HUWAG KAYO PAKAKAIN SA SISTEMA.” Youthful idealism will end up
meaningless if we begin to “dance with the world” by compromising principles
for pay-offs or for a little bit of fame and power. Hindi lahat ng bagay ay
nabibili…kasama na diyan ang prinsipyo at ang paninindigan. Hindi lahat ng
nabibili ay nagpapaligaya.
Dear young people, let your
idealism make you hunger and thirst, not for success, fame and fortune, but for
the Kingdom of God. Be hungry for righteousness. Mourn for the prevalence of
sinful structures in society. Work for justice by being just and fair. Work for
peace by being peacemakers and by resisting temptations to be violent. Be
compassionate to the poor. And live simply so that you can always have
something to share. Huwag lang panay ang sarili ang isipin natin.
As for the mighty and powerful,
balang araw, babagsak din sila. Just wait and see. The Kingdom of God, which is
built with blood and sweat, this alone will remain standing for ever.
O Mary conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee!
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