Simbang Gabi 2018 9: The Dawn before Christmas morning

SIMBANG GABI 2018 9

YEAR OF THE YOUTH

DECEMBER 24, 2018

Jesus, I trust in you!

Simbang gabi ends today. We have been coming to Mass for 9 dawns already and the novena fittingly ends with a clear reference to the dawn: “In the tender compassion of our God, the Dawn from on us will break upon us to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death and to guide our feet on the way of peace.” (Sa kagandahang loob ng ating Diyos na magpapadala sa atin mula sa kaitaasan ng isang araw na sumisikat upang liwanagan ang mga nakaupo sa kadiliman at sa lilim ng kamatayan , upang ituwid ang ating mga yapak sa daan ng kapayapaan.)  Advent commemorates that long wait for the coming of the Savior. It was a waiting in the darkness of error and sin. St. Peter spoke of it: “We also have the message of the prophets, which has been confirmed beyond doubt. And you will do well to pay attention to this message, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” (Sa gayon ay tumitibay ang sinasabi ng mga propeta: mabuti ang inyong gagawin kung mamasdan ito, na gaya ng isang ilawan na tumatanglaw sa dakong madilim, hanggang sa pagbubukang liwayway at sa pagsikat ng tala sa umaga sa inyong mga puso.)  (2 Peter 1: 19) The world waited in the dark with only God’s revelation, his word of promise, as a lamp to look at until the dawning of the promised day and the rising of Christ, the morning star in our hearts.

John the Baptist was born and his birth puts an end to the long silence of God. For a long time, God sent neither prophet nor prince to his people. It was as if God got fed up with the constant adultery of his people that he decided to give them the “silent treatment.” The nine month silence of Zechariah was a sign of this. Remember that Zechariah was made mute by the angel who appeared to him before John was conceived. And when the child was circumcised and was named “John”, Zechariah’s tongue was loosened. He began to speak in prophecy. At last, God speaks to his people. At last, he has sent a prophet to them. And the purpose of the sending of the prophet was to prepare the way for the coming of the Word of God himself: “You, my child, shall be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.” (Ikaw naman, sanggol, ay tatawaging propeta ng Kataas taasan, sapagkat mangunguna ka sa Panginoon upang ihanda ang kanyang daraanan, upang ituro sa kanyang bayan ang kaligtasan sa kapatawaran ng kanilang mga kasalanan.)

The birth of John was the sign that the long wait is about to end. “The night is far spent and the day draws near…” so would St. Paul say. Soon the darkness will be over. The night will give way to the dawn. The Light of the world will be born and he will dispel the darkness of error, sin, and death. And when the day comes, we shall all see what was hidden from us under the cloak of darkness. When the darkness of sin is lifted up, we shall see how beautiful the world was meant to be. We shall see how wonderful is the life that God intended to give us. On that day, we shall realize how much the devil has stolen from us and what he has deprived us of.

Dawn is the beginning of day. It is a fresh start, a new beginning. Tired and weary, we rest our bodies in sleep. We wake up fully refreshed at dawn. Whatever mistakes we have done, whatever filth we have incurred, all these will pass away together with the darkness that is dispelled by the first streaks of the light. The Lord allows us to rise to a promise. Dawn is the opportunity to start all over again.

And this is the dawn of Christmas morning. Most of us have wonderful memories of childhood Christmas mornings. I have my own. When I was a child, I woke up on Christmas mornings always with a sense of awe. I was awed by the gifts beneath the Christmas tree and by the goodies left by Santa on the socks I hang on the wall. I hope, that tomorrow, on Christmas morning, all of us will awake with child-like wonder. Let us be like wide-eyed children as we behold the gift on God beneath the Tree of the Cross: his only begotten Son who will be born of the Virgin. When you behold him, pray to him and ask him to take away your sorrows and wipe away your tears. Ask him to dispel your darkness and drive away your fears. Ask him to forgive your sins and bring you to forgive others as well. Soon, we shall see the promise of Christmas morning. Tonight, let us go to sleep with hope in our hearts. Whatever darkness you are going through, it will come to end. The dawn from on high shall break upon us!

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Simbang Gabi 2018 8: The Messenger who goes before the Lord

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!

Simbang Gabi 2018 7: A Young Girl's Prophetic Song

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!

Simbang Gabi 2018 6: Empowered by the Holy Spirit

SIMBANG GABI 2018 6

YEAR OF THE YOUTH

DECEMBER 21, 2018

Jesus, I trust in you!

Upon discovering from the angel that her elderly cousin Elizabeth was pregnant, Mary set out in haste to visit her and attend to her needs. But it was not her alone who went to visit nor was Elizabeth alone who was the object of the visit. Mary was carrying in her womb the Son of God who had just been incarnated. On the other hand, John the Baptist has been living in his mother’s womb for six months then. Mary went to visit Elizabeth. Jesus went to visit John. Mary went to visit Elizabeth to help her through a difficult pregnancy. Jesus went to visit John to sanctify him with the Holy Spirit even though he was still in his mother’s womb: “He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb,” so said the angel to Zechariah at the temple. Little did Mary realize that she was doing more than just assist her cousin for at that moment when John was sanctified in his mother’s womb, Jesus was already saving him. That moment of charity became a moment of salvation. Beneath what was visible, something invisible was wonderfully taking place.

The Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and thus made the Incarnation possible. But let us not forget that the Holy Spirit did something more in Mary. He inspired her to go to Elizabeth. In fact, the conversation between Mary and Elizabeth was a Spirit-filled conversation. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped for joy and she, filled with the Holy Spirit, declared Mary’s blessedness as Mother of the Lord.

Young people, the Holy Spirit whom John received in his mother’s womb is the same Holy Spirit we received on the day we were baptized. He is the same Holy Spirit who overshadowed Mary and empowered her. Thus, you and I are empowered also by the Holy Spirit. He empowers us with his supernatural gifts. As our helper, the Holy Spirit in us empowers us to live lives that radiate the goodness of God. He helps us to be who God created (intended) us to be. He is the power who sustains, energizes, and keeps us on a holy path. The Holy Spirit makes us holy. He purifies us from our sins through the Sacrament of Confession. He helps us convert and be Christ-like. He transforms us into the image of Christ. The Holy Spirit directs and helps us to do the will of the Father. The Holy Spirit imparts to us gifts that will help us serve the Church. He empowers us to fulfill the calling God has placed on our lives. He pours on us the love of God to sustain us through difficult moments. He keeps hope alive in us through such moments by reminding us that we are constantly loved by God. He helps us pray most particularly when it seems too difficult to pray because our sorrows are too great. He reminds us of what Jesus said and taught us, especially when the trials seem to be too great. And most of all, the Holy Spirit makes us witnesses for Jesus. As the Holy Spirit pointed out to John the Baptist the hidden presence of Jesus in the womb of Mary, so also does he point out the hidden presence of Jesus to the world. This is what we testifies to us. He keeps reminding us that the Lord is near. He reveals to the world the Gospel and he does this through us. Therefore, we should not shy away from being advocates for Christ. Nor should we worry about what to say. The Holy Spirit will put these words on our lips. And those words will be powerful words. Look at what the Holy Spirit placed on the lips of Mary. It was just a greeting but when this greeting reached Elizabeth’s ears, the baby in her womb leaped for joy. Through that greeting, John was sanctified.

We are an empowered people. Baptism gave us the Holy Spirit. Let the Spirit make us go in haste to bring the Gospel to our friends and to all people. Young people, you are gifted. More than just your innate talents, you are gifted with something more. You have received the Holy Spirit. Go and share the Gospel. In the power of the Holy Spirit, be disciples. In the power of the Holy Spirit, make disciples.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Simbang Gabi 2018 5: Open your Door to the Redeemer

SIMBANG GABI 2018 5

YEAR OF THE YOUTH

DECEMBER 20, 2018

Jesus, I trust in you!

The appointed time has come and the long wait will soon be over. It was the time for God to send his Son to redeem the world. And so, he sent the Angel Gabriel to Nazareth to a virgin who was betrothed to Joseph. And the virgin’s name was Mary. Why was the angel sent? He was sent to ask Mary for her consent to the Divine Plan that she will bear a Son who will be the Son of the Most High, the ruler of a Kingdom that will have no end. Is it not strange that God should do this? After all, He can do whatever he pleases. He can do all things. He can always have his way. What is he in power for if he could not enforce his will?

And yet, such is the humility of God. The act of becoming man is humbling in itself for God. God is almighty…the universe could not contain him. There is nothing in the universe that does not owe its existence to Him. And yet, in his desire to redeem us, God took the form of a slave, being born in our human likeness. And true enough to his self-emptying (kenosis), he politely knocks at the door of the heart of Mary. He sent his angel to plead with her: Please accept my Son…he will be sent on the mission to save the world. Allow him to take flesh from you and reside in your womb for nine months. Allow him to be nurtured and to be raised by you.

The humility of God: he comes to do us a favor. He comes to save us…and yet he still asks for Mary’s consent. In humility, he comes to Mary and through Mary, he comes to us. He did not force Mary to take him in. He did not want Mary to accept him if it were against her will. Mary enjoyed freedom of will. In the 1^st reading, Ahaz was told: Ask the Lord for a sign, let it be as deep as the nether world or high as the heaven. Ahaz close to reject the offer: I will not ask…I will not tempt the Lord! Mary was allowed to express her hesitation: “How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” The angel patiently explained to her how the Holy Spirit will overshadow her and make it possible. All she needed to do is to say “Yes!” And Mary did! She said: “Behold the Handmaid of the Lord, let it be done according to your word.” That consent, given in freedom, was the key. Through that consent, Mary’s life was changed. Through that consent, the world will never be the same. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us!

Many young people hesitate to open their hearts to Christ. They fear that Jesus will make many demands that will curtail their freedom. They want to enjoy life and to them, it can be done only if they kept away from Jesus. But none is farther from the truth. Away from Jesus, there is no freedom…but only slavery. There is no fulfillment, but only emptiness. There is no contentment because there will always be something lacking. Why is this so? It is because God has created in our hearts a vacuum that only he can fill. God has made us for himself and our hearts will always be restless until we rest in him!

At the inauguration of the World Youth Day in Cologne, Pope Benedict dared the youth: “Dear young people, the happiness you are seeking, the happiness you have a right to enjoy, has a name and a face: it is Jesus of Nazareth, hidden in the Eucharist. Only he gives the fullness of life to humanity! With Mary, say your own ‘yes’ to God, for he wishes to give himself to you…If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation.’”  

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Simbang Gabi 2018 4: A Life of Purpose

SIMBANG GABI 2018 4

YEAR OF THE YOUTH

DECEMBER 19, 2018

Jesus, I trust in you!

Even before they were conceived and were born, both Samson and John the Baptist had a purpose for living. These were both revealed by angels to their own parents. The angel said to the mother of Samson that her son will begin the deliverance of Israel from the power of the Philistines. The angel Gabriel said to Zechariah that his son will prepare a people fit for the Lord. Samson was consecrated to God from the womb. John will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from his mother’s womb. Being consecrated to God means that a person belongs to him. This is a sign of God’s love and mercy towards the promised child and to the parents who will receive him from the Lord. Elizabeth, the wife of Zechariah, declared: “So has the Lord done for me at a time when he saw it fit to take away my disgrace before others.”

The Responsorial Psalm sings of the praises of God coming from a person who recognized the Lord’s singular love for him. “You are my hope, O Lord, my trust, O God, from my youth. On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength. I will treat of the mighty works of the Lord; O God, I will tell of your singular justice. O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds.” (Ikaw ang aking pag-asa, O Diyos ko; ang aking pinanaligan, Panginoon, mula pa sa aking pagkabata. Mula pa sa aking pagsilang ikaw na ang umaalalay sa akin; mula pa sa sinapupunan ng aking ina ikaw na ang aking lakas. Isasalaysay ko ang kapangyarihan ng Diyos; O Panginoon, ipapahayag ko ang katangi-tangi mong kabanalan. O Diyos, tinuruan mo ako mula pa sa aking pagkabata, at hanggang ngayon ay ipinahahayag ko pa ang iyong mga kababalaghan.) These words should be proclaimed by all people, and especially by the youth. It is because like Samson and John the Baptist, each of us were created for a life of purpose (may layunin ang buhay). We do not lead meaningless lives because God always has a reason for creating something. He does not create anything without meaning or purpose. The mere fact that we were created…the mere fact that we exist is the proof that we have a purpose for existing (may dahilan sa pamumuhay). There is always an answer for the question: Para saan ka bumabangon? Para kanino ka bumabangon?

Perhaps, for some, their purpose is not clear because they keep on looking at themselves in reference to people who do not seem to appreciate the gift of their persons. And this is sad. When we feel unappreciated, it is because we fail to see ourselves the way God looks at us. Each person is a gift. Samson was God’s gift not only the Manoah and his wife. He was God’s gift to the people of Israel who are to be delivered by him from the Philistines. John was God’s gift not only to Zechariah and Elizabeth but to the people who will be prepared by him for the Lord. You are a gift…otherwise, you will not be here on earth. One day, that purpose will be clear…you will mean something to someone because right now, you mean something to the Lord. No one is useless because God does not make trash.

Dear young people, you are beloved by God. From your mother’s womb, God called you to belong to him. Place your hope in the Lord. Trust him. Let the Lord be your strength. Let your life be one long song of thanksgiving to the Lord. You can only thank the Lord the moment you recognize that you are a gift. You are a gift of God to those who love you. You are a gift of God to the world. You are a gift of God to yourself. You did not create yourself. God did. And because of this, you have a purpose. God does not create meaningless creatures. God does not do things without a purpose.

O  Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee! 

Simbang Gabi 2018 3: St. Joseph and Vocation

SIMBANG GABI 2018 3

YEAR OF THE YOUTH

DECEMBER 18, 2018

JESUS, I trust in you.

In the genealogy of Jesus, St. Joseph was not called the father of Jesus. He was simply referred to as the husband of Mary who, in turn, was called the Mother of Jesus. This clearly pointed to us that Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus. The Gospel reading today tells us that when Mary was betrothed to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found with child. In Jewish custom, a betrothal meant that a man and a woman have promised themselves to each other. The man is given a year to build their house and upon completion of the task, he goes to the house of the bride to claim her and bring her home with him. This was a beautiful custom which is unlike the co-habitation or living-in which many people do today. Today, couples live like husband and wife even without the benefit of marriage. They make a claim on each other’s persons and bodies but without asking God to seal their marital covenant. This was not the case for Joseph and Mary. They promised themselves to each other but they have not yet lived together because it was not yet the time. They had to wait for the proper time when they can consummate their marriage.

But before this could happen, Mary was found to be with child. But her pregnancy was not on account of fornication. Joseph respected Mary and protected her virginity. And Mary, on her part, was faithful to Joseph. Her pregnancy was the fruit of the action of the Holy Spirit. God had a special plan for mankind and this he intended to accomplish through Mary. St. Joseph had a dilemma. He was torn between his love for Mary and her exalted vocation. Could he keep Mary for himself or should he, out of generosity, step back quietly to allow God some space in order to accomplish his plan for her? He must have silently agonized over this problem. All he wanted was to accomplish God’s will. The Lord answered his prayer and sent the angel to convey his answer: “Do not be afraid to take Mary for your wife.” God wanted St. Joseph to be husband to Mary and also to be father to his only begotten Son. Mary will give God’s Son his flesh. Joseph will give him his name. Because of Joseph, Mary’s Son will be called “Son of David.” Joseph will make Jeremiah’s prophesy a reality: “I will raise up a righteous shoot to David; as King he will reign and govern wisely.” When God’s will was made clear to him, Joseph rose up to fulfill it. He took Mary and took her home with him as his wife.

Young people are often confronted by the question of vocation. What is the direction my life should take? Where is this leading me? Is this the right person for me? Am I called to this way of life? While there are many things to consider when making life choices, the most important consideration should be the discernment of God’s will. It is only in fulfilling God’s will where true happiness and a sense of fulfillment be found. And God’s will can only be discerned in constant prayer. It is to the praying heart that God reveals his will. When confronted by a difficult choice, do not simply ask yourself. Rather, ask God through prayer. This prayer is not a quick visit to the church for an Our Father or a Hail Mary. Rather, it is silently coming constantly before God. We should keep asking God until he makes his answer clear. St. Joseph will prove to be a reliable companion for discernment. Ask St. Joseph to help you pray to the Lord. Seek for the Lord’s enlightenment. Always bring everything to prayer.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.  

Simbang Gabi 2018 2: The Lion of the Tribe of Judah

SIMBANG GABI 2018 2

YEAR OF THE YOUTH

DECEMBER 17, 2018

JESUS, I trust in you!

Advent makes a significant turn today. From being a preparation for the Lord’s 2nd coming, today it becomes a direct preparation for Christmas. And our journey towards the day of the Lord’s Nativity begins with the famous genealogy of the Lord Jesus. To many young people, the reading today may sound boring. After all, it is just a list of names of the human ancestors of the Lord. This is how it seems to be because we never made the serious effort to know the stories beyond the names. If only we made that effort, we will find out that these ancestors led very colorful and intriguing lives. Let us take Judah for example.

Jacob wanted to marry Rachel and worked for it for 7 years but later on was deceived by Lot to marry the elder sister Leah. And so, Jacob had to work for another 7 years to take the younger Rachel for his bride. Of course when they were married at last, Jacob showed preference for Rachel whom he loved more than Leah. The Lord saw this and so he favored Leah and Rachel did not bear children.  Leah bore Jacob his first 3 sons and she thought that she will be loved on account of them. But still she did not earn her husband’s love. When she gave birth to her 4^th son, Leah said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” She named him “Judah” meaning “praise” or “thanksgiving.”

The Book of Genesis today tells us that Judah was destined to be great among the sons of Jacob. He was destined to be the ancestor of the Israelite kings. He rose in leadership because his 3 elder brothers were disqualified on account of sexual misconduct of Reuben and the bloody revenge by Simeon and Levi. Jacob blessed Judah in the presence of his brothers: “The sons of your father shall bow down to you…Judah crouches like a lion recumbent – the king of beasts.” The fourth son of the unloved wife will be the ancestor of King David…and later on of Jesus. Jesus was the son of David, the son of Judah, the son of Abraham.

God prepared the family to which Jesus will be born in a truly amazing way. If we look at the lives of each ancestor of the Lord, we will discover very scandalous cases. Tamar’s relation with Judah was illicit because she was his daughter-in-law. At the very root itself, we find the defects of the tree. No wonder David’s kingly line will emerge from an illicit affair with Uriah’s wife which eventually led to murder. Kung ano ang puno siya ang bunga.

If this were true of Judah and David, how could Jesus have emerged unaffected by the “sins of his fathers?” The answer is rather simple. Look at the end of the genealogy. It spoke of Joseph not as the father of Jesus but as the husband of Mary. We all know that St. Joseph was not the biological father of Jesus. He stood as the legal father of Jesus but never was he Jesus’ biological father. “Joseph was the husband of Mary. Of her was born Jesus who is called the Christ.” Jesus did not inherit the generational sins of his family. He is the seed of the woman. Jesus was born to redeem the sins of his people…but first of all the sins of his ancestors.

Sometimes we wonder why we have become what we are. It is important to look at our personal lineage (angkan). To understand ourselves, we need to look at the ancestors who came before us. Traits are inherited and so are sins and defects. (This is true even biologically as there are families that are prone to certain diseases…we always say that it runs in the family.) Sometimes, we suffer the curses incurred by our ancestors. However, we should never feel helplessly trapped in this situation. There is a way out. As Jesus cleansed his own family with his own blood, so also should we ask him to cleanse our family with his blood. With faith in our Lord and in his Blessed Mother, we must ask that the Cross be placed between us and any unhealthy relationships.

The genealogy of Jesus shows us that the Lord hails from a royal line. The Kingship of Jesus gives fulfillment to the blessing of Jacob for Judah. Jesus is the powerful King who defeats the enemy. He is the Lion of the tribe of Judah who has conquered and destroyed the work of the devil. If only we put our faith in him and have recourse to the Church which is his Kingdom of earth, we can rise from the faults of our fallen generation. Faith in Christ empowers us in this spiritual battle. Jesus is the Father’s gift to fallen humanity. In Jesus, we are beloved by God.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Simbang Gabi 2018 1: The Winnowing Fan

SIMBANG GABI 2018

3^RD SUNDAY OF ADVENT C

DECEMBER 16, 2018

Jesus, I trust in you!

The beginning of Simbang Gabi this year coincides with the 3^rd Sunday of Advent which is known as the Gaudete Sunday or the Day of Rejoicing. Both occasions which coincide on the same day tell us of the same message: The Lord is near! Therefore we should rejoice. And by now, many of us feel the pressure of the approach of the holy days. Traffic is exceedingly heavy because everybody wants to do last minute Christmas shopping. After all, we are down to the last 9 days to Christmas. And also let us not forget the many Christmas parties we must attend…even if it were still only in the Advent Season. All of these constitute our preparations that we must fulfill because Christmas is near. “Now the people were filled with great expectation,” so the Gospel tells us. I suppose that these words apply to us as well.

But what are we expecting? Who are we expecting? Are we expecting gifts? Food? Liquor? The return of some long separated loved one? Reconciliation with a former friend? What is is that we are expecting? In the time of John the Baptist, people were clearly expecting the coming of the Christ. They were all asking in their hearts whether John was the Christ they were waiting for. And John was quick to say: “The one mightier than I is coming. I baptize you with water but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into the barn, but the chaff he will burn into unquenchable fire.”

The winnowing fan. Farmers know what this is all about. After the harvest, the grains are collected and pounded (bayuhin) and they are thrown before a powerful fan. The fan blows away the chaff (balat) while the grains fall to the ground. The chaff are easily blown away because they are empty. The grains are heavier, therefore these fall into the ground.

And so we, who find ourselves amidst the frenzy of holiday preparations must ask ourselves: If our preparations are thrown before the winnowing fan, will they be blown away because they are empty? Or will they fall to the ground because they are substantial and real preparations?

“What must we do?” the people asked John. So also should we ask him as well. And John answers us: share and change. “Whoever has 2 cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” Isn’t this the filling of the valley that he referred to last Sunday? And to the tax collectors he said, “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” To the soldiers he said, “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone. Be satisfied with your wages.” Aren’t these the leveling of the mountains that he referred to last Sunday? By sharing what we have, no matter how little they may be, we fill up the valleys. By cutting down our sinful ways, we level the mountains. This is the substantial preparation for the Lord’s coming. “Your kindness must be known to all. The Lord is near,” said St. Paul.

As every Advent brings us closer to the end, so we should make sure that every Advent increases us in holiness and decreases us in sinfulness. Remaining unchanged from one Advent to another is a waste of so much opportunity given to us by God. Remember that as the deadline draws near, we should be progressing in the work assigned to us. The closer we get to the end, the more task we should have accomplished so that when the time is up, we have something to present, something to offer to the Lord. When we are told that the Lord is near, it means that the struggle for holiness will not be for long. Therefore, let us urge one another to go on and not to abandon the fight. The Lord is near. His recompense (kabayaran) comes with him. Soon, we shall rest from our labors. Soon, we shall be rewarded for our faithful service. It won’t take long. The Lord is near. Our salvation is at hand.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

2nd Sunday of Advent: Returning Home

2^nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT C

YEAR OF THE YOUTH

DECEMBER 9, 2018

Jesus, I trust in you!

Many of us think that Advent is simply a preparation for Christmas. However, last Sunday’s gospel reading tells us that Advent means something more. It points us towards the 2^nd coming of Christ at the end of time.

St John the Baptist

Today, St. John the Baptist enters the picture. He will be our Advent guide. We often associate him with Christmas because he is the precursor of the Lord. He goes before the Lord to prepare his way. He is shown to fulfill the prophecies of Isaiah: “A voice crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths…and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.” However, we should pay attention to the end of the reading: “All flesh shall see the salvation of God.” When did it happen that all people saw the salvation of God? Was it when Jesus was born? Definitely not! When the Lord was born, only shepherds and magi saw and visited him. On that blessed night of the Lord’s birth, Bethlehem was fast asleep, unaware that God was born among them. In fact, later on, Jesus would weep over the ancient city of Jerusalem, soon to be destroyed because she did not recognize the time of her visitation. In fact, even until today, not everybody can see the Lord. Only those who have faith in him can see him.

And so, when will all flesh see the salvation of God? It will be at the end of the world. Remember last Sunday’s gospel reading? Jesus said: “And then they (all nations) will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.” All people, whether they are believers or not, will  see Christ coming back in glory. That is why, the Lord told us to stand erect with heads held up high because we know that our redemption is at hand. The Prophet said: “All flesh shall see the salvation of God.”

And no one can escape the Lord’s inevitable coming. “That day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.” The Lord’s coming is something we can neither prevent nor avoid. And so, we might as well prepare for it. How can we prepare for the Lord’s coming? St. John the Baptist tells us the way: “Prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight his paths.” John preached a baptism of repentance. Our preparation for the Lord’s coming should be by way of repentance. Our crooked ways must be made straight. We must make up for our shortcomings as valleys are to be filled. We must temper our excesses as mountains are to be made low. In society, we must also strive to bring about social justice. Many live in want because a few live in plenty. Preparing for Christ’s coming also means that the rich must temper their opulence so that by charity, those who are in want may have their necessities satisfied.

As Isaiah said in his prophecy: “Jerusalem, look and see your children gathered from the east and the west at the word of the Holy One,” we realize that listening to the Word of God leads us to this gathering of the Church. “Led away on foot by their enemies they left you: but God will bring them back to you.” Sin led us away from the Church and now, God brings us back to be reconciled with him and with the Church. Incidentally, the President tells us not to go to the Church and simply stay home. In doing so, he has done the work of the enemy who led the children of Jerusalem to leave her. Repentance means coming home to God. Repentance means coming home to the Church. During Advent, there is a better place to go than shopping malls. That place is the confession box. Return home to God. Return home to the Church.

As we joyfully await the glorious coming of Christ, we light today the candle of peace. This peace can only be received if we are reconciled to the Lord and to his Church. St. Paul said: “This is my prayer: that your love may increase ever more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value, so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.” (Narito ang aking idinadalangin: na ang inyong pag-ibig ay yumaman ng yumaman sa ganap na kaalaman at sa lahat ng pagkukuro. Makilala sana ninyo kung ano ang lalong mabuti at maging malinis kayo at walang pagkukulang hanggang araw ni Kristo, na puspos ng bunga ng kabanalan na nakakamit sa pamamagitan ni Jesukristo, sa ikaluluwalhati at ikararangal ng Diyos.)

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!   

First Sunday of Advent C: Looking towards the end

1^st SUNDAY OF ADVENT C

YEAR OF THE YOUTH

December 2, 2018

Jesus, I trust in you.

Every time we begin a new year, we are filled with hope. To many of us, a new year is an opportunity to erase mistakes done during the past year. A new leaf turns and so hopefully, things would get better. This hope is expressed by the word “sana”: “Sana maging masagana ang bagong taon”; “Sana matupad ang pangarap ko”; “Sana magbago na ang lahat.” Perhaps this is the reason why we light a candle of hope on the first Sunday of Advent. Inasmuch as the first Sunday of Advent is the beginning of a new liturgical year, we light the candle of hope which expresses our longing for something (or someone) in the future.

The Last Judgment

But why is it that the Gospel about the end of the world? The signs in the sun, moon, and the stars, the shaking of the powers of the heavens and the roaring of the sea and of its waves will cause all people to be perplexed and afraid in anticipation of what is coming upon the world. This fear will come from the fact that they do not know why these things are happening. But we Christians are told by the Lord that when these things happen, we should stand erect and raise our heads because we know that our redemption is at hand. We know that the Lord Jesus will descend in a cloud with power and great glory. We are so sure that this will happen because our Lord promised that he will return and he will keep his promise: “The days are coming, says the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah.” We should raise our heads as if we are telling the world: “The Lord comes with vindication. Just wait and see…I told you that this will happen. The Lord will return to judge the living and the dead.”

There is no use for distress because our worrying will not keep the Lord from fulfilling his promise. Our worry will not stop the signs from taking place. “That day will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth.” The day of his return is already set and nothing can we do to delay it. Every Advent season brings us closer to that appointed end. Time is running out.

Therefore, what must we do? St Paul tells us we should spend our remaining time in striving to increase in love for one another and for all. We must strive to be blameless in holiness before God at the coming of the Lord Jesus. As we received apostolic instructions on how to conduct ourselves to please God, we should do even more because we are closer to that day and time is running out. The anxieties of daily life and the corruption of the world must not allow us to be caught by surprise on that day. We know that the Lord will surely come. Therefore we must be vigilant in prayer and in charity so that we may be able to stand before the Son of Man.

Look at the overseas contract worker. Every day he works and toils and endures the pain of being separated from his loved ones. What sustains him is a date that he keeps in mind: the date of the end of the contract when he could return to his family. And as that day draws near, he saves his earnings so that he may bring something home to offer his family.

Let us keep in mind that we are strangers in this world. Every day, we work and toil as time brings us closer to the end. This hope should console us. We are going home at last and our true home is in heaven. Now that the end of our earthly journey is coming to an end, we should think of what to bring home to offer the Lord at his return. What harvest will I offer him? What good work? What offering of holiness will I give him? We shall soon be reunited with the Lord. That day will not be far away. Stand erect and raise your heads because your redemption is at hand.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!   

Advent 3: The unrecognized One among you!

Jesus, I trust in you!

Rejoice in the Lord always…Indeed the Lord is near!

John the Baptist was at the center of the limelight. People went out into the desert to hear him preach and have themselves baptized by him. The Lord Jesus even said that John the Baptist was a shining light and people rejoiced in that light. Light has a natural power to give joy. Do we not instinctively clap our hands when light is restored at the end of a brown out? People thought that John the Baptist was the light. But he told them that he was not the Christ. “He was not the light but came to testify to the light.” He came to prepare the way of the Lord.

The light he testified to is Jesus. Jesus is the true light of the world. He is the one who gives joy to the world: I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete (John 15:11) Jesus was sent “to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and release to prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord.” His coming to us brings us joy. The joy that Jesus brings is the joy that comes from the closeness of God to us.

That is why it surprises us that Christmas depresses people. We hear Christmas songs that express loneliness: “Ang Disyembre ko ay malungkot…” “Pasko na sinta ko, hanap hanap kita…” Why do people get depressed during Christmas? Why are they overcome by sadness? I think it is because we have become too engrossed with ourselves. We keep on looking at ourselves so much that we begin to see what we do not have…what we lack. I am sad because I do not have you. I am sad because we are not together. I am sad because I do not have.

Looking too much at my own self, I become miserable. I have forgotten that Christmas is not about me. It is about Jesus whose birthday it celebrates. John the Baptist explains our misery: “There is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who comes after me.”  Our poverty makes us so sad that we fail to recognize him who brings glad tidings to the poor. Our broken hearts take up so much of our attention that we fail to recognize him who heals the broken hearted. We are captives of our own selves, imprisoned in our self-centered lives that we fail to recognize him who proclaims liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners. We are sad because we think that the Lord has abandoned us. This is not true! The Lord is near us especially in our sorrows. He is closer to us more than we can ever imagine. He is so close to us. We simply do not recognize him. If only we look beyond ourselves and look at Jesus, we will hear him announce to us a year of favor from the Lord.

Although John the Baptist was a shining light, people rejoiced in his light but only for a while. He was not the light. Our joy is not in John but in Jesus. Jesus is the true light who shines on every man. The one who follows him will never walk in darkness but will always have the light of life. “In Jesus lies salvation. In Him it is possible to find interior peace and the strength to face different life situations every day, even the most difficult ones…we are filled with peace because we know how to place our joy in the Lord even when going through the most difficult moments in life. To have faith does not mean never to have difficult moments but to have the strength to face those moments knowing that we are never alone. This is the peace that God gives his children.” (Pope Francis, Angelus Message, December 14, 2014.)

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Advent 2: burning excesses and making up for lack of goodness

Jesus, I trust in you!

We know that Christmas is just around the corner when traffic becomes heavier and malls and night markets become busier. People are just so busy “buying special gifts, making time to be friends to one and all.” Everybody is so busy preparing for the most wonderful time of the year.

While nothing is wrong with shopping and with partying, it is only right for us to keep our focus on the real reason for the holidays. If Advent is a time of preparation, what are we preparing for? Many of us will immediately conclude that we are preparing for the feast of the Lord’s birth. All these parties and gift giving celebrate the mystery of the incarnation of the Son of God.

While this may be true, we must not forget that Advent does not only prepare us for Christmas. Advent also prepares us for the coming of the day of the Lord when “the heavens will vanish with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and all its deeds will be made manifest.” (Sa araw na iyon, ang kalangitan ay biglang mapaparam na may nakapangingilabot na ugong, matutupok ang araw, buwan at mga bituin, at ang lahat ng lupa ay malalantad.) We are waiting for that awesome day of judgment when all the earth will make an accounting before Christ.

St. John the Baptist of Qiuapo Church

Thus, St. Paul warns us to be holy in conduct and devotion, to make every effort to be found without stain or defilement, and at peace in the sight of God as we await for the coming of the Day of the Lord. In preparing for the coming of the Lord, St. John the Baptist proclaimed a baptism of repentance which led to the forgiveness of sins. He declares: “Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low…” Not only did he proclaim repentance. He lived it out by a penitential lifestyle: he wore camel’s hair and fed of locust and wild honey. He fasted, prayed, and proclaimed because the one who is to come after him is more powerful than him. He considered himself unworthy to unstrap the Lord’s sandals. The one who comes after him is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit and with fire.

The Lord shows generous patience in the seeming delay of his coming. He is giving us time to repent and straighten our ways. “He wants no one to perish but all to come to repentance.” This repentance is necessary because on the last day, everything shall be consumed by fire – everything except those which belong to the Lord. When Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God,” he was referring to poverty of the spirit as basic requirement for entrance into the Kingdom of God. This poverty is detachment from everything that is not of God. Fr. Pong said to us during our Advent recollection: Ang hindi magdadala ay langit ay huwag ikasusungit. Oftentimes, we have so much worldly excesses, so many mountains to level. On the other hand, we find ourselves lacking in doing good, so many valleys to fill. That is why we are not prepared for the coming of the Lord’s Day. We have so many excesses to burn and so little good to offer.  We must burn our excesses by penitence and make up for our lack of goodness by acts of charity. And most of all, we must repent now, lest we be caught by the day of the Lord that comes like a thief in the night. Let the Divine thief steal nothing from us by voluntarily giving up the worldly things we are attached to. Let the Divine Judge be pleased with us by our offering of spiritual profits gained by works of charity. Confess your sins, pray, fast, and give. Let us prepare the way of the Lord!

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Advent 1: Caught in the Act

May He not catch us asleep!

Jesus, I trust in you!

The prophet Isaiah looked back at that time when God came down to save his people “with the mountains quaking before (him), while (he) wrought awesome deeds (they) could not hope for, nor heard of from of old.” He was referring to the time of the Exodus when God brought out his people from the slavery of Egypt with such mighty wonders: He divided the Red Sea so that his people may walk through it and He descended on Mt. Sinai with so much glory. Now that his people had gone astray, Isaiah asked: “Why do you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways and harden our hearts that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants…Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down…” And God answered Isaiah’s prayer. He came down in person and even worked wonderful miracles beyond the people’s expectation. But Israel did “not recognize the day of their visitation.” They crucified him for they did not know that he was the King of glory. Their hearts were blinded by their obsession with a political messiah who would have driven away the Roman oppressors that failed to recognize the one “who comes in the Name of the Lord” to save them from the greatest oppression of all: sin.

The Lord will come again, no longer in the appearance of a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes but as a judge sitting upon the clouds of heaven. He will as the Master who had entrusted each of his servants with a task to do. As in the parables we heard 2 Sundays ago, he will demand from us an accounting of what he entrusted to us. He will come at an hour we least expect. And so the Lord warns us: “Watch; you do not know when the Lord of the house is coming…May he not come suddenly and find you sleeping.” Isaiah said: “Would that you might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of your ways.”

And this is really the question: when the Lord comes now, will he find doing right? Will we be found being mindful of his ways? “When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the face of the earth?” It would be terrible if he comes today and finds us preoccupied with the frenzy of the holidays. It would be terrible if at his coming, “there is no one who calls upon (his) name, (there is no one) who rouses himself to cling to (the Lord).” Perhaps, as we busy ourselves buying gifts for the holidays, we must be mindful of what St. Paul said: “you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Are we really waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus? Are we pursuing his spiritual gifts? Do we concern ourselves with receiving the gift of Divine Mercy in the sacrament of confession? In busying ourselves eating at Christmas parties, do we concern ourselves with eating the Bread of Life in the Sacred Liturgy? Remember that Christmas is made up of 2 words: Christ and Mass. St. Paul said that “you were called to fellowship with his Son, Jesus.” It is in the Mass that we enter into that fellowship. Do we concern ourselves with drawing away from the noise of the holiday carnivals in order to meditate on the Word of God which reveals to us Jesus Christ? Are we really waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus?

Advent reminds us that our concern is to be “irreproachable on the day of the Lord Jesus Christ.” At his coming, may he not find us eating and drinking, marrying, trading and building. May he find us watchful in prayer, busy in doing what is right, being mindful of his ways. Let us call on him and cling to him. Stay sober and alert, for we do not know when the Master will return.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!

Simbang Gabi 9 (Fatima Centennial): the Miracle of the Sun

JESUS, I TRUST IN YOU!

On the last day of the Simbang gabi, we read the Song of Zechariah. His voice restored on the day of the circumcision of John the Baptist, Zechariah sang in praise of God for sending a Savior in fulfillment of his promise to Abraham and the prophets. He also recognized the vocation of his new born son who will go before the Lord to prepare his way. The song of Zechariah is being used as the morning prayer of the Church because of these words: “In the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Perhaps, the reference to the dawn also makes this song an appropriate reading for the last day of preparation for Christmas. Christ, the Radiant Dawn, is about to break upon us. He is the Sun of Justice who shall shine upon us who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death.

The Fatima apparitions ended with a great miracle that our Lady promised to perform for all to see. It rained heavily on October 12, 1917 and on the morning of October 13. The much awaited miracle was lampooned by the secular press. Tens of thousands converged on Fatima in spite of the appalling weather conditions. They were all drenched with the rain but still they stayed on to see this promised miracle. At noontime, as Our Lady spoke with the 3 children, everybody present saw the heavy rain ceased and sky cleared. The sun appeared in a way that everybody could look at it directly without their eyes getting hurt. It trembled and began to move to and fro across the sky, throwing out multi-colored lights in all directions. Then, all at once, the sun detached itself from the sky and came plunging down like an enormous fireball on the screaming multitude. Everywhere people were falling into the mud in panic. They were crying out their sins and pleading for divine mercy as they cringed in imminent expectation of the end of the world. At the last moment, the sun halted its plunge and climbed back into the sky to resume its normal position and brightness. As the crowd heaved a sigh of relief, everyone noticed that their clothes and the entire Cove da Iria were completely dry. The solar miracle was only the 3^rd time in history that God had used the sun to perform a miracle – the other 2 occasions being the prolongation of daylight at the prayer of Joshua (Joshua 10), and the sign given to the king of Judah in 714 BC by the prophet Ezekiel in which the shadow of the sundial retraced its path by 10 hours (Kings 4:20). The uniqueness of the solar miracle of Fatima was that its exact time and location were publicly announced months in advance.

Pope Paul VI in 1967 would later on say about the miracle of the sun: “It was eschatological in the sense that it was like a repetition or an annunciation of a scene at the end of time for all humanity assembled together.” Indeed, there could be no greater sign than the miracle of the sun. At Fatima, there were 100,000 eyewitnesses coming from all faiths who at the time of the miracle, were all convinced that the end of the world had come. And afterwards, when they found themselves alive and dry but still quivering with fear, they realized that God had stamped his Mother’s words with a colossal preview of His 2^nd coming.

The Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon said in 1977: “While the death of God is proclaimed with arrogant glee, Fatima appears like a great supernatural light. It is God who reveals himself with the impressive majesty of Sinai.” In the time of great incredulity, God used the sun in order to affirm the faith of his faithful that he is alive. In the Gospel, the Lord spoke of signs in the sun, in the moon and the stars that would speak of his coming (Luke 21:25). The solar miracle is definitely that sign in the sun that the Lord referred to. The sign of Fatima, the promise of the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, is the great promise of the ultimate triumph of the Kingdom of God. It is a dazzling sign of hope for a tormented and fearful world. It is a wondrous pledge of God’s unwavering love for his wayward children. Although the much of the world has abandoned him, he has not abandoned the world. Instead, through his Mother, the Lord promises to withhold the terrible arm of his Justice and to forgive his rebellious children if a “sufficient number” respond to the invitation of his grace to find refuge in his Mother’s Immaculate Heart. He assures us of final reconciliation and peace.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church says: “The Last Judgment will reveal that God’s justice triumphs over all the injustices committed by his creatures and that God’s love is stronger than death.” (CCC, 1040) The miracle of the sun points to that day when God’s goodness will triumph over all evil. Indeed, the Lord Jesus is that Sun of Justice who will burn the arrogant and the evil doer. But he shall heal those who fear him (Malachi 4:1-2) In the triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary is found the promise of the victory of good over evil, Justice over oppression, peace over violence, humility over arrogance, mercy over sin. Let us do what our Mother asked in Fatima and bring the world closer to that era of peace.

O Mary conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee!