The song, not the singer

The story is told about an emcee who introduced the guest speaker thus: “Ladies and gentlemen, rumor has it that our guest speaker was a consistent honor student; rumor has it that he was the captain of the basketball varsity team; rumor has it that he was the campus heartthrob. Yes, we have heard a lot of rumors about him. It is my honor to introduce to you our guest speaker… the man who started all these rumors.”

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In today’s gospel (Jn. 1, 6-8.19-28), John the Baptist made it clear that he was not the Christ.

Here was a man who did not magnify himself, an honest and a humble man who did not grab the light from his Master. “He must increase, I must decrease.”

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God has called us to sing the gospel song of joy while we are still living. Please remember that our life in Christ is not focused on us, the singer, but on the song that we must continue to sing. Yes, the song must go on, not so much because of us, but in spite of us, and in spite of circumstances around us.

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Today, Gaudete Sunday, we light the candle of joy in our Advent wreath. The joy of the Lord is our strength, and the joy of the Lord is our song, especially in this year of the pandemic. The Gospel is the good news, and the joy of the Gospel is our song to a world that has been wounded with so much fear, sufferings, uncertainties, hopelessness, and pain. Let’s all continue to spread hope and joy. Sana all!

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Let us ask ourselves today: What have I done to give joy, hope, and encouragement to other people in spite of the difficulties and challenges that I, myself, am going through? Givers of joy become recipients of joy. If you are not joyful, maybe it is because you are not giving joy enough.

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Are you a “feeling entitled” person who expects joy to be given by others? The sooner you snap out of this expectation, the better for you and for the people around you. Joy is a give-and-receive matter, and as it has been said, it is better to give than to receive.

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If you can’t give joy, at least, don’t kill the joy. Be a joy giver, not a joy killer. Be a joy maker, not a joy breaker.

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I once knew a person who kept saying “corny,” or “he, he, he” whenever a joke was made. I had to tell her that if she did not find the joke entertaining, perhaps, she could just smile, but not go on to douse cold water on warm hearts trying to make this world come alive, somehow. Yes, let’s all keep singing a joyful song, and keep on encouraging singers and whisperers of hope and joy.

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Sharing with you a beautiful message from Our Lady of Guadalupe, which gives so much joy and hope: “Let nothing discourage you; Do not fear any illness or vexation; Am I not here who am your mother?; Are you not under the shadow of my protection?; Are you not in the folds of my mantle, in the crossing of my arms…?” (Dec. 12, 1531)

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Dec. 18 is the birthday of our Papa, Guillermo. He was a joyful person who gave so much joy to other people because of his kindness and generosity. I believe that it was his humility that made him friendly to everyone. He did not have enemies, nor did he harbor ill feelings. Humility and joy go together.

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Speaking of songs, I have come out with a simple Christmas song entitled “Pasko Salamat,” to somehow give hope and joy this Christmas to our world battered by the pandemic.

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A moment with the Lord:

Lord, help us to keep singing the gospel of joy, and the joy of the gospel. Amen.

jorbos@inquirer.com.ph