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The Lord Is My Chef Simbang Gabi Recipe-5, 20 December 2016
Isaiah 7:10-14//Luke 1:26-38
May isang bata na sobrang pasaway na kahit anong gawin ng ama ayaw tumino. Sa sobrang galit ng ama, isinilid sa sako ang bata at ibinitin sa puno.
BATA: Tay….
AMA: Ano? (naawa sa anak…)
BATA: Taaayyy!
AMA: (Lumapit sa sakong nakabitin) Ano?! Magbabago ka na?
BATA: Tay…paki-swing naman. (LOL)
“Pasaway” is a popular Filipino word referring to a hardheaded person who refuses to follow or obey rules. From the Tagalog “saway” that literally means to stop, a pasaway is a stubborn person and perhaps, a little bit better than a bad person could not be stopped from doing foolish things that could be detrimental not only to himself/herself but also to others.
Isaiah’s cry in the first reading is a plea against Ahaz, the pasaway king of Judah who entered into an alliance with pagans that led to widespread idolatrous practices in the Southern Kingdom including at the Temple of Jerusalem. Then Isaiah said: “Listen, O house of David! Is it not enough for you to weary men, must you also weary my God?” (Is.7:13) Interpreted in our time today in Filipino, Isaiah would have cried “Ano ba kayo, sobra na kayong pasaway sa isa’t-isa, pati ba naman sa Diyos pasaway pa rin kayo?” We have heard last Sunday the context of Isaiah’s prophecy when Ahaz refused to follow God’s will and insisted on his political gambit that in the process made Israel sinful leading to so much sufferings and hardships in the hands of their conquerors. Yesterday, we heard also the story of another pasaway, Zechariah who questioned the angel’s message that his wife Elizabeth would bear a son to be named John, the Lord’s precursor. As a result, he was punished by becoming speechless until everything the angel had told him is fulfilled.
The opposite of a pasaway is an obedient person, one who listens and follows orders, one who cooperates like the Blessed Virgin Mary. The story of the Annunciation of the birth of Jesus Christ to Mary shows us the proper attitude in making Christmas happen not only every December 25 but every day of our lives. It starts when we value God’s greatest gift to us, His Son Jesus Christ who comes to us always. Do we welcome Him? Do we receive Him? A gift needs a receiver for it to bring out its worth. Unless nobody is willing to receive a gift, it remains just a gift. The same is true with Jesus Christ as a gift from God though even without us, He has always been of great value as the Second Person of the Trinity through Whom everything was created according to St. Paul. Nonetheless, His being a gift to be received is clearly shown in our gospel today: And coming to her, he said, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you.” (Lk.1:28)
Jews traditionally greet one another with “Shalom” or peace. But in narrating to us the Annunciation of Christ’s birth to Mary, St. Luke used the Greek word “chaire” or “rejoice” translated to us in English as “Hail!” Here we find again the artistry of St. Luke wherein after greeting Mary with chaire or “Hail!”, the angel told her, “Full of grace.” The Greek word used by the evangelist is “charis” for grace or gift (etymology of charism and charisma). These words in Greek came from the same root that one rejoices when given with a gift. Mary was told to rejoice because she was so gifted with the ultimate gift of all, Jesus Christ! Joy and grace are intimately connected because any gift received calls for rejoicing.
I have always loved this scene of the Annunciation which according to Pope Benedict XVI is the actual start of the New Testament. This scene shows to us how every morning when we wake up, the archangel Gabriel is always greeting us like Mary, “Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with you!” We have to believe in that greeting happening to us daily for the gift of Christ journeying with us in every new day. And like with Mary at that time, the big question we have to answer is whether are we willing to receive this gift or not by cooperating in the Divine plan for us in Jesus? We all know Mary’s response: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” (Lk.1:38) Are we also willing to give that amen or yes to God?
Mary’s fiat, her yes to God’s invitation to be the mother of Jesus is the reason why we have this wonderful Christmas season. Mary said yes without reservations, fully cooperating with God’s plan in giving birth to our Savior while remaining a virgin. If we really want to experience the joy of Christmas, we must cooperate with God like Mary. “Bawal ang pasaway” for us to truly experience the joy and grace of Christmas. Today the gospel is asking us to reflect or examine our attitudes about gifts, both as a giver and a receiver. In 2012 I have reflected in my Christmas homily that is actually more difficult to receive gifts than to give. When we receive gifts, we admit we need the person giving us the gift. When we receive gifts, we admit we need others. When we receive gifts, we are humbled. Notice that with the widespread commercialism and consumerism, gifts are now taken for granted by both the giver and the receiver. Call me a conservative or old-fashioned but I feel uneasy receiving invitations that declare “we appreciate your gifts but we prefer cash.” Even kids these days openly ask for cash gifts from their ninong and ninang than traditional gifts intricately wrapped in feel good designs and colors. Gifts are supposed to be freely given without being asked for. What have happened with this great and wonderful tradition? Maybe because as givers, we no longer truly take the time to consider more the persons we gift that we just get or buy whatever is available. On the other hand, we as receivers have lost the humility of appreciation perhaps because we have asserted so much our very selves that we disregard, even disdain when others seem to think what’s good for us. Our Father perfectly knows what’s best for us that He gave us His only Son Jesus Christ. Let us not be a pasaway and be like Mary, choosing Jesus Christ above all to let Him surprise us with His joy and grace!
Fr. Nicanor F. Lalog II
Parokya ni San Juan Apostol at Ebanghelista
Gov. Halili Ave., Bagbaguin, Sta. Maria, Bulacan
