8th Simbang Gabi
Bishop Albert Bahhut
The day started with no rain waters gushing down the streets. Just a colorful mural, saying Next was my theme for the night. And a purple lighted Christmas tree in Glendale.
Bishop Albert Bahhut was greeted and welcomed warmly by Fr. Rodel G.Balagtas. The Bishop acknowledged his adopted congregation, as he was the pastor of Holy Family, until promoted to Vicar and now, Bishop, “I hope you don’t mind my frequent visits.”
The mass was opened with a prayerful dance interpretation to ‘Holy is thy Name’ by John Talbot, with a robust choir singing. 5 women were led by Jo Solomonson, and they were wearing Maria Clara scarves and dresses, reminiscent of the Spanish times. I was observing their hand movements and they were gracefully pointing upwards and their eyes looking upwards, in veneration.
His homily, excerpted here, with additional help in deciphering the playpen metaphor, by Myrna Cunanan-Cruz, a layleader.
“Roberto entered the house through the garage. “What’s for dinner,” he asked Maria? She replied adobo and pancit. The congregation laughed.
It was an icebreaker that resonated with Filipinos here in this Church. Yet, non-Filipinos have also actively joined in the last two days of Simbang Gabi.
“Dada,” the boy in the playpen, greeted him. About to pick up his son, Roberto was stopped. Son has a time out, says the Mom.
“What would you do,” Bishop asked? He presented a dilemma of a father greeting his son and honoring the timeout of 15 minutes, given by the mom. It was not quite the end of 15 minutes, she added, perhaps feeling concerned.
He sat down in the couch, and rested awhile, then he got on the floor and hugged his son, while the son was in the playpen. It reinforced the concept of timeout or is this God’s challenge?
Timeout is ours, keeping us away from Jesus, because of our sins. Of course, justice makes us finish the timeout.
But, the Lord goes inside our playpen, a metaphor for life, and embraces us, to be with us, to accompany us in our life’s journey, regardless of circumstances.
Remember the angel who told Mary, and the shepherds to not to be afraid? Because the Lord is with us, now. Just like Roberto.
That God chose to be with us, to be not afraid, you are not alone, we need not be afraid, just open our arms to receive Jesus and Jesus is with us in our playpen, called life.
Mary trusted the word of God. She overcame her fear and she let it be done, according to God’s will.
This Christmas, let’s pray that the Lord gives us a listening heart, an understanding mind, and that’s why we celebrate with joy.
Stay in the playpen mess of life, allow Jesus, for each Eucharist you receive, the Lord says you are not alone anymore. With Him, we can do the impossible.”-Bishop Albert Bahhut, 2023.
Reflections:
I was confused with the playpen metaphor, as it excavated prior images as a toddler left in the playpen, while my mother went to work as a teacher.
I asked a lay leader, Myrna Cunanan-Cruz to share hers.
Excerpted here, this offers a much more coherent one: “Good morning, my idol P
This is my understanding!
When the father got home, the son was so excited to see his father. The feeling is mutual. The father was about to pick up the son from his playpen when the mom forbids him to do so since the son is on TIME-OUT.
What the father did was to either embrace the son while on time-out or stay in the playpen with him (embracing him) till his time-out is over.
That is what our Lord does for us. He is with us during our TOUGH times; He DOES NOT leave us alone.”- Myrna Cunanan-Cruz
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After the liturgy, Fr. Rodel G.Balagtas exclaimed what a great liturgy we had. Indeed as the congregation shared their loudest applause. He thanked everyone: the choir, the lectors, Ben Aranda, the sacristans, the musicians, and all the volunteers.
After thanking all, including the Bishop, who got the applause as well, Bishop stood up and said:”You forgot one. You, Fr. Rodel G.Balagtas. You led these efforts.”
The community of attendees clapped boisterously, as if an encore is being requested, and more applauses followed.
I shared his enthusiasm. The choir, led by Les Santos, had a talk with the choir before the mass. Each person stood up, after he acknowledged them. It created a feeling of motivation. They started singing with much joyful gusto and exuberant energies.
The exit processional was marked with collective joys, some were dancing on their way out to the school auditorium.
Inside, the auditorium had been refurbished with new lighting, newly painted ceiling, and a renovated bathroom.
The decorations were tastefully done by Ed Rame with decorations that he donated and he was acknowledged and thanked by the community. He is such a generous person, donating his time and talent. Hopefully, his treasure will be provided for by a generous congregation.
Fr. Rodel G.Balagtas spoke of leading a group of generous volunteers to go to St. Thomas the Apostle Church, and gave toys for the children. He described their collective feelings of uplifted energies from generosity and of cheering up the children during this Season.
Speaking of children, tonight’s lectors were the children, even one of the lead singers. I also watched the children perform Carinosa, taught by Jo Solomonson. She also taught Grades 2 to 7 schoolchildren, with some folk dances that required 4 rehearsals. Thanks to the parents who came to facilitate with these rehearsals and performances.
The church community fed 400 plus folks with a healthy dinner: lumpiang ubod, fish with sweet and sour sauce, sotanghon pancit, rice, chicken apritada, lechon and several types of bibingka. Numerous volunteers, with 4 serving stations, made for a short wait, though lines were long. It was quite efficient.
Fr. Rodel G.Balagtas recreates 9 days of Simbang Gabi as solemn days of reading, meditating, reflecting on God’s grace to all of us, he even makes phone calls and goes out of his way to check in with folks. He has done this consistently for 15 years now. He takes the time to know about each family’s story.
He truly walks his talk of authentic love for God and others. I overhead someone remarked:”Fr. Rodel improves every Church that he goes to, he makes it better than what he found it.”
I truly am more energized to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and God’s greatest gift to us – His begotten son for 33 years, for his divine son to be human, to connect to us, multibillion human beings, to be holy, to be divine, and to join him in His Divine Home, our home should we choose it, after our flesh is gone.-Prosy Abarquez-Delacruz
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“God has done everything; he has done the impossible: he was made flesh. His all-powerful love has accomplished something which surpasses all human understanding: the Infinite has become a child, has entered the human family. And yet, this same God cannot enter my heart unless I open the door to him.”
–Pope Benedict XVI via Niña Samantela-Ruivivar