Toward the light

The story is told about a judge who asked a defendant: “Where will you go if you tell a lie?” The defendant said: “To hell, your Honor.” Then the judge asked: “And where will you go if you tell the truth?” To which the defendant replied: “To jail, your Honor.”

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In today’s Gospel (Jn. 1, 6-8, 19-28), we hear of John the Baptist who told the truth and testified to the Light. He did not pretend to be somebody else: “I am not the Messiah.” He was honest about who he was, and he was clear about his role and mission in life.

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Problems arise when a person becomes dishonest about himself/herself, and when he/she does not become true to his/her calling. Look at history, and see how many dishonest people have hurt so many and caused so much havoc in people’s lives because of their dishonesty, unfaithfulness and deceit. We don’t need to look far. We only need to look at current events and people around us. In fact, we need only to look at ourselves.

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In baptism, the parents and godparents are given the lighted candles to remind them of their duty to pass on the light of faith to the children. The lighted candles are also a reminder for them to become shining examples to the children. With Christmas coming and with our traditional gift-giving to the children, let us also reflect on our light-giving mission unto them.

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If you want to know what it means to testify to the Light, go back and remember the usher/usherette who meets you in a dark movie house and with his/her flashlight, leads you the way, and points you to your seat, so that you can watch and enjoy the movie. Take note: the usher/usherette does not point the flashlight to himself/herself.

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Nobody stays in the limelight forever. the sooner we learn this lesson in life, the better. The other lesson we need to learn is our willingness to just fade away. People who learn these lessons will not need to be dragged away, or to be forced to exit in a shameful way.

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The Blessed Mother was one who never grabbed the limelight from her Son. She always pointed to Him and not to herself. In our present world where there is so much passion for popularity and power, may she be a reminder to us that humility and gentleness of heart are virtues that are necessary, important and relevant.

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Papa used to kid Mama about her smiles being “as rare as December showers.” Well, the climate has really changed, and we have been having not only showers but rain this December. However, last December 7, there was no rain as we celebrated our rosary and Mass vigil at the grotto in Christ the King Seminary, Quezon City. Days before that and after that, we had rain, but on that vigil night for the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, we had a cool, moonlit December evening. When asked if there was a Plan B in case it rained, Dante Magdangal, an ex-SVD seminarian (XVD) and a member of the Perpetual Rosary Movement, said: “There is no Plan B. We just pray to Mama Mary.” Indeed the Blessed Mother is present and active in these our days! Thank you, Mama Mary!

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Speaking of Mama, we had a beautiful and meaningful 90th birthday celebration for her last Dec. 8. It was attended by relatives and friends through the years. Her nephews and nieces Rolly and Connie Galicia, Ed and Evelyn Galicia, Jun Lopez and their children came all the way from the United States and Canada for the occasion. Her classmates from the Philippine Normal School, Honorata Moreno and Consuelo Dancel, brought the house down with their stories down memory lane. It was a fitting tribute to Mama, a humble, prayerful woman whose only passion and mission in life is to obey God’s will. Thank you, Lord, for Mama, a humble daughter of our Blessed Mother.

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There is so much I want to share about our Mama, but enough to say that her faith is something that amazes and humbles me up to now. The Lord indeed raises the humble and the lowly. Mama is one who says little, but who loves much. Let us thank God for people like  Mama  who show us the light, and who point toward the light by their very lives!

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In preparation for Christmas, you are all invited to the Marian Congress with the Montfort Missionaries today, Dec. 11, 2011, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Paul University, Aurora Boulevard, Quezon City. The speaker will be Fr. Mario Belotti, SMM.

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Bantay Matanda invites you to a lay forum on Natural Healing Remedies at the Janssen Hall, Christ the King Seminary, on Dec. 17, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. For inquiries, please call 373-2262/998-2548/ 0917-4167849.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help me to live in your light, and point always toward you, the Light of my life! Amen.