6th Simbang Gabi 2023
Fr. Paolo Garcia*
Intermittent rains, a downpour in the morning to early afternoon. I took advantage of the break in the rains to commute to where the mass is, an hour away with traffic. Starting early cuts the commute but increases the wait time. The wait time is a good two hours, one for listening to the choir practice and after a few minutes, they sing with harmony and gusto.
Then, the processional with a family in indigenous costumes, Ramirez I recall. The cling and clang of the bells made for a very boisterous welcome.
It was matched by the exuberance and enthusiasm of Fr. Paolo Garcia. His homily, excerpted below. Writing about it helps to recall the messages but hearing it in-person, seeing the smiles of the pastors and the parishioners lifts up one’s spirit.
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“I apologize for my hoarse voice. I participated in the mass for Our Lady of Guadalupe, I kept shouting ‘Que Viva Cristo Rey’ and said mass at 4am. I lost my voice and it is gradually coming back.
3rd Sunday’s Advent color is rose – as life is a mix of purples and whites; triumphs and sufferings; Good Fridays and Easters.
Season of Advent’s color is purple, the color of penance, difficulty, sadness, confession.
Season of Christmas is white representing hope, joy, peace and love. Joy to the world, yet deep inside for some it is Silent Night.
Recently, I had facetime with my parents who went home to the Philippines. I asked:”How’s life in the Philippines?”
“Airport to Pasay took 2 hours, for a commute that should be 15 min. Life is difficult. There’s so much poverty,” my parents said.
I have been to the Philippines six times now and I like it there, especially the street foods: betamax, kropek, fish balls, kwek kwek with sawsawan. It is a city that never sleeps. You can spend hours praying in a chapel inside a mall if you want free A/C, free air conditioning, to cool off. A mall is where folks are gathered, but not buying, and with a chapel. It is nice to be there, praying for hours.
Folks are happy.
With little that they have, they come faithfully to church. They have their faith, they rely on God for that’s all they can have. There’s a joy, not depending on their life’s circumstances, but God, for God is with them.
In this Advent, there are three anunciations – one to Joseph, Zacharia and Mary – God is with us for all 3 Anunciations. Angel Gabriel says don’t be afraid – these are the two common features of these 3 anunciations.
Visitation
Two lessons to learn during Mary’s visitation to Elizabeth: Don’t be a Maritess, Be an Elizabeth, see the good in people.
‘Blessed are you among women, how is it that Mother of Lord has come to me?’ Elizabeth saw who was inside Mary and recognized Jesus as the baby in her womb leapt for joy. Before we judge others, take time to learn about their dreams, take time to listen to them. Don’t focus on the externals, but the goodness inside others.
It is easy for us sometimes to treat others better than our family, instead be an Elizabeth not a Maritess.
Lesson #2: Mary was pregnant, a teenager, and travelled to give good news, endured the climb to the summit, ‘my soul rejoices.’ Mary was selfless, and remained with Elizabeth for 3 months to help out.
Today, the world wrapped in conflict and pain, inside the Holy Land, Ukraine vs. Russia.
He ends with this story.
Peter Arnett, a New Zealand journalist was in the midst working where a bomb exploded in the town. A man asked for a ride to save an injured girl. They got to the hospital but the girl could not be saved. Arnett tried to comfort the man, thinking he lost his child. He said:”She’s not my child, she’s Palestinian, I am Jewish. I saw her bleeding and I wanted to help her. May we realize someday that we are all family, that we are neighbors.”
Life is a mix of Good Fridays and Resurrections, may the Lord help us to trust:”I will surrender to you. I will always be your handmaid.”-Fr. Paolo Garcia
*Fr. Paolo Garcia is a student of Fr. Rodel. He remembers sitting in Fr. Rodel’s office for hours, conversations on how to become a priest. Fr. Rodel forecasted he would become a good preacher, while he taught at St. John’s Seminary in Camarillo. Then, he asked:”Is he not?” The almost full church applauded. He is the director of the Queen of Angels Center, a discernment center for men to become priests.”
My appreciation for how great these homilists are – Fr. Joy Lawrence Santos, Fr. Danny Guinto and Fr. Paolo Garcia! I regret missing Fr. Rodel G.Balagtas’s homily at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, Los Angeles as from the grapevine, folks resonated with his inspiring, uplifting homily and the breakfast after.
It was at IHMC that the Archdiocesan – wide cultural celebration of Simbang Gabi was pioneered by Fr. Rodel G.Balagtas. It was here that I was welcomed as a lapsed Catholic. Now, I am not, I bet my mom and dad and eldest sister are happy in heaven watching me brave the rains to attend mass.
The 9 day masses at Ihmc Socal were memorable as great homilists like Fr. John V. Era, Fr. Kenneth Masong, Fr. Anthony Carreon and Fr. Randy Odchigue, all from the Philippines, were special guests. Fr. Camilo Pacanza was also inspiring in decorating the altar with elements from the backyard and using lamps in a very aesthetically pleasing and solemnity-enhancing-vibrant altar. One lingers to just sit and let God in. Trusting him that this too shall pass.
The commute home was met with heavy rains, petered out halfway. It was the way of the heavens to give us both Good Friday and Resurrection, the difficulty and the triumph of attending Simbang Gabi, a continuation of the practice started by my father, Eleazar, now me. I wonder what my lineage would do next? Will they continue with Simbang Gabi? My 16th year of doing SimbangGabi in person and online!-Prosy Delacruz
