Joyful through it all
The story is told about a man who said to his friend: “My pastor is so good he can talk on any subject for an hour.” His friend responded: “That’s nothing! My pastor can talk for an hour without a subject.”
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In today’s Gospel (Matthew 11: 2-11), we hear how focused John the Baptist was. He had a subject—Jesus. He had a mission—Jesus. We too, more and more, must be clear and tenacious in making Jesus our subject and mission in life amid so many distractions and confusions.
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Today is called the “Gaudete” Sunday, to remind us to be joyful in our waiting and preparing for the birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ. May we joyfully spread the joyful message of our joyful God! Our lonely and busy, cynical world needs so much to hear the Gospel, the Good News, the joyful news of a God who loved the world so much that He sent His only begotten Son!
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When Jesus was asked by John’s disciples “Are you the one who is to come?” his answer was: “Go and tell what you hear and see; the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the Gospel preached to them.” Indeed, a tree is known by its fruits. More than our words, it is our deeds that show our love for God and neighbor.
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Why is it that the smell of apples was stronger when we were children? Is it because they were not coated with wax preservatives then? Or is it because our sense of smell is weaker now? Or is it because there are so many distracting different Christmas scents now? This Advent—Christmas season, may our sense of smell for God become stronger than our sense of smell for money, for food, for festivities, and for good time. And may we also smell the filth, the poverty, and the helplessness of so many people around us.
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Along with a heightened sense of smell for God and for the poor and suffering, may our sense of smile be also heightened. May we become more joyful, peaceful, and kind especially this time of the year. Let’s have a happy Christmas, and make so many people so happy this Christmas. And don’t forget the subject—to make God so happy this Christmas.
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One of the things that I learned from Papa and Mama is to keep looking up, especially when times are hard. Papa and Mama were Advent persons who continued to make way for peace, joy, hope in our lives with their deep faith and trust in God. They did not have much, but they were generous in giving us their smile, their nod of approval, jokes, and words of encouragement.
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“Don’t take yourself too seriously.” Good advice, especially to those who become proud of their natural endowments and material blessings and achievements. Hello! All these are from the Lord. They can be all gone in one flick of a finger. Humility is the key to set us free from many sorrows, stress, and anxieties that come with our attachments to our worldly blessings. God is the source of all our blessings.
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Remember how we as children used to hang up Christmas stockings and prayed that our Christmas wishes would come true? As grown-ups, we still have our personal wishes and dreams, but wouldn’t it be better if we ask others, starting with our own family, what they wish for Christmas? Yes, let us listen to our loved ones, our neighbors, and be one with their hopes and dreams. Amen!
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Think about this: While many of us are so stressed decorating our homes, many of our brothers and sisters have lost their homes, or have long been living in the streets. While we are engrossed with our Christmas shopping, and preparations for “noche buena,” many of our brothers and sisters do not even have money to get a decent meal. While we are busy preparing for our Christmas reunions, many of our brothers and sisters have lost family members, other loved ones, and friends.
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Think about this, too: “You know why you are not happy? Because you are too focused on yourself. See the big picture! There is a God, and there are people around you who need your kindness and love.”
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A moment with the Lord:
Lord, help us to be joyful, through it all. Amen.
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