SIMBANG GABI 2018
8
YEAR OF THE YOUTH
DECEMBER 23, 2018
Jesus, I trust in you!
Advance party…this is the most
appropriate description I can give of the birth of John the Baptist. If there
is any significance in this birth, it is not that he was sort of a miracle baby
born to aged parents. It is also not that his father’s tongue was loosened on
the day of his circumcision. The significance of this birth is described by the
prophet Malachi: I will send my messenger before you to prepare the way before
you.” This baby is no ordinary
messenger. He was likened to the Prophet Elijah, the greatest of all the
prophets. He had to come in the spirit of the greatest prophet because the one
who will be born after him, the one whose path he must prepare, is the Almighty
God. “Who can endure the day of his coming and who can stand at his appearance?
He is like the refiner’s fire and fuller’s lye; he will sit as a refiner and a
purifier. He will purify Levites like gold and silver.” Obviously, the
preparation needed is more than just planning parties and banquets. It would
involve much more than gifts and decorations. Because the one coming is
Almighty God, preparing for him will involve purification from sin so that the
worship we shall offer to him will be truly pleasing and acceptable to him.
The advanced party is now here…it
only means that the Lord will follow soon. In fact, in (2) a day’s time, it
will be Christmas morning. Are you prepared for it? You have probably made a
list of things to do and of people to send gifts to. Have you made your list
and checked them twice? But with Noche Buena and gifts prepared, can you really
say that all is set? How about your soul? Are you purified enough? Have you
gone to confession? Malachi said: “He shall turn the hearts of the fathers to
their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers.” Have you
mended broken relationships? Mga kabataan, may atraso ba kayo sa inyong mga
magulang? Nakahingi na ba kayo ng tawad? Parents, have you neglected your
children? Have you made up for your neglect? Bully boy whose video went viral
definitely was the product of parental neglect. For if it were not so, then how
did he grow up filled with so much hatred? Obviously money is not the only
element of child rearing. More important than money would be time, attention,
and discipline. How is your family? Is it prepared to welcome the Lord? Are you
now reconciled and at peace with each other? Perhaps, if you have been
concerned with external preparations and have neglected the spiritual and
relational preparations, you have the last two days to fix things and so be
prepared for the Lord’s coming.
“Look up and see: your redemption
is at hand.” It is only when we are spiritually prepared that we can recognize
the great gift the Lord bestows upon us. And believe me…the Lord has shown us
so great a favor. It will be just so sad to miss it simply because we were not
prepared to see it. Ask the Lord to silence your heart so that you may hear his
voice. Ask him to open your eyes so that you may recognize him who comes. Ask
him to purify and humble your heart so that you may welcome him with great joy.
O Mary conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee!
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