Simbang Gabi is a
devotional nine-day Mass series honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary in
anticipation of Christmas. It originated in the early days of Spanish rule over
the Philippines
as a practical compromise for farmers who, to avoid the noonday heat, starts to
work before sunrise. It eventually became a cherished Christmas custom and a
distinct feature of Filipino culture.
That cold night
of the first Simbang Gabi mass, when the choir started to sing carols, I could
not help but gush to whoever would listen how good they were – it was like
listening to the radio. It was so nostalgic that I was transported to the time
when our family would play carols on full blast and one of them was the
Christmas Alphabet – where Christmas is represented by candy canes, Santa and
toys underneath a tree so tall. It was a carol we all know by heart, but this
year, in the course of nine days, I learned a new Christmas Alphabet based on
the night’s gospel readings and Father Troy’s anecdotes and it goes like this:
Night 1. Commitment.
What is your motivation for simbang gabi? Growing up, the lure of puto
bumbong, hot cocoa and the sumptuous breakfast that awaits us at home was
our motivation to get up before the crack of dawn to attend mass. As young
adults the promise of a granted wish was what peaked our enthusiasm – but food
as motivation wanes and as for granted wishes – well I figured that if I prayed
hard enough God will grant me my wish anyway so as a result I have never
completed the 9 day mass series. This year though I found a different kind of
motivation.
Night 2. Humility.
Christmas is a time for family. Just as Jesus humbly
accepted his imperfect ancestry so should we accept our family’s flaws (as well
as our own) and work towards making our families Christ-centered, with Peace,
Love, Faith and the Grace of God binding us together.
Night 3. Reflecting
Image. Marriage is the fundamental relationship in which to apply all God’s
teachings. As two people promise God to
love one another and look towards God in all the aspects of their marriage,
they reflect the relationship between Christ and the Church. Marriage vows
truly puts new meaning to the term ‘unbreakable vow’.
Night 4.
Insight. Often when we face and come across life’s
hurdles – we whine and ask God “why, why me? Why have you allowed this to
happen to me?”, we often lack understanding and vision as to what message
God wants us to receive, but just as Saint Joseph accepted and heeded God’s
command so should we learn to silence our hearts, listen and readily accept
God’s challenges. Let not our weakness and self doubt hinder us from saying
“Yes” to the Lord, turning our whiny why’s into “Why not?”
Night 5. Submission.
I am one of those person who likes to plan their day – I make a ‘to do’ list and
feel happy and accomplished when I get to tick chores/ errands off my list.
When my day does not go as planned, I get agitated and moody – and to think
that we are only talking about just one
day! Just imagine how Blessed Mary felt when it was revealed to her that she is
to bear a son – it might not be in her immediate plans but she submitted
herself to the will of the Lord saying “I
am the handmaid of the Lord, be it done unto me according to your word”. We
each have our own life plans but like Mother Mary we should put our full Faith
and Trust in God. We should always have an open heart to the plans God has for
us - “thy will be done”.
Night 6. Treasure.
Everyday God’s showers us with countless blessings. We are blessed abundantly
by God not because he wants us to amass a great deal of fortune but because he
wants us to grow in spirituality, learn and have the resources to share and in
turn be a blessing to others because as Father Troy puts it “Grace is not Grace
when not shared”.
Night 7. Master Plan. God’s outpouring blessings
can be easily overlooked when we focus on the little things that may seem
discouraging and insignificant - at times we even get riled with greed, envy
and other worldly sins when we fail to see the big picture and desperately make
things go our way . Echoing Fr. Arlo’s ”ang lahat ng bagay ay biyaya ng diyos na
hulog ng langit” sentiment we should include everything in our gratitude –
good or (seemingly) bad, because anything and everything that has happened, is
happening and will happen in our lives has a purpose and meaning - it is all part of God’s greater plan for
us.
Night 8. Apostleship. What’s in a name? I used
dislike how my name is often misspelled and mispronounced despite how common it
is. Overtime I began romanticizing my name having learned that it meant ‘beloved’, but this night’s readings and
homily enlightened me to the truth that there is more to my name that just an
idea of a pocketbook heroine. Each one
of us is given the collective name ‘Christian’ when we were baptized and are
each called by name to do God’s work.
“Hi!
I am (a) Beloved Christian, and I am a follower of Jesus”.
Night 9. Salvation. As we come to the conclusion of
the Simbang Gabi, let us remind ourselves the reason of our celebration. God
has given us the greatest gift wrapped not in ribbons and fancy paper but in
swaddling clothes in a manger. God has gifted us with salvation with the birth
of his son Jesus and it is because of him that we are saved.
Living in a
non-Christian country where Christmas celebrations are subdued, it came to a
point where we regard Christmas as just another ordinary day. Even the
traditional simbang gabi is forgone
because of the weariness our daily grind brings. Some expats would often even
say ‘walang pasko sa Abu Dhabi’ but
Christmas is here and I can feel it…
More that the
reward of granted wishes or a full tummy, the urge to hear mass as a way of
giving thanks for all the blessings I have received was motivation enough and
having completed the Simbang Gabi for the very first time ever and
learning a new Christmas Alphabet, has deepened my understanding of Christmas
as it opened my eyes and heart to its true meaning and so despite being
physically away from my famiIy, despite fewer gifts under the tree, I am sure
to have the merriest, most significant Christmas yet!
… and for all of
this May God be Praised!!!
