Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord
(Editor’s note: An excerpt of the homily of Archbishop Romulo G. Valles, D.D., during his Mass on the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord, December 25, 2020.)
I received two texts among the many, salamat sa mga texters, dugay raba ko mobalos but I was struck by two texts. The other one was a little sad for one reason or another but in the middle of the text the one who texted me but Christmas is not about myself, I was struck by that, Christmas is about the Lord. Very legit reasons why it is gloomy, the texter could not almost celebrate Christmas. But Christmas is not about me, it is about the Lord. And the other one a good friend of mine from the City of Zamboanga, I was an Archbishop of Zamboanga. He texted me, Archbishop many people if not all are saying Christmas is different this year because radically different from previous Christmases because of the pandemic. But I say Christmas is Christmas no matter what, wow.
Now I took notice of this because we can try to define what is Merry Christmas? We can try to describe what is blessed Christmas? Yes true but we better be careful that our inato, our personalized, tailored description or concept ug pagsabot unsa ang Christmas must be based on the definition of the Lord and from the Lord and basically to the scriptures. The rite from that and guided by that I believed yes we can have our own definition of Christmas. Like the two texters one said it is not about me, it is about the Lord in Christmas. Despite the pandemic Christmas is Christmas, so true. So yes, you try to apply afterwards but I will try my best what is the Lord telling us His scriptures, the readings wonderful today in this mass during the day. Naa nay usa ka gabie, kagabie kani akong mga kauban karon I was uncomfortable. I don’t think kung naa pani sila’y grado maot akong grado gabie tungod sa face mask so I have this third set. I was not able to say mass for the second mass in the day. I hope I can help you offer ourselves this meditation. Indeed why is this a Merry Christmas, a blessed Christmas, the birth of our savior?
Let’s go to the opening prayer, I’ll always take notice of it sometimes it is difficult but the prayer that I said opens the Eucharist. Balik-balik naku by now those who are listening to me in the cathedral bright namu. The title sa bisaya minus, pag-ampo sa katilingban pero gwapo kaayo sa English “collect” kolekta meaning summary of our prayer. It is not just mine there this supposed to be the prayer of the church, the opening of the mass. Then it’s said, “O God who wonderfully created the dignity of the human race.” We who celebrate Christmas ayaw kalimot in the beginning we are creatures of God. Unta we know Him, we are familiar supposed to be with Him. You who wonderfully created the dignity of the human nature.
Then we go to the middle reading, gibasa ganiha nindot kaayo. Brothers and Sisters in times past God spoke in partial and varied ways to our ancestors through the prophets in these last days He has spoken to us through the Son. In the past, the angel pass God spoke to us. Come to think of it naay mga sitwasyon istoryahon nimu, sikohon ko ayaw’g istorya ana wala na makasabot kay kana imong binisaya kay binul-anon na, tagalog na daku na, dili ta maka istroya labaw na’g iningles. Kahinumdum ko sa akong nanay sauna, my Nanay. Our parish priest Americano niadto sa balay Msgr. Jaime, americanong-americano dili pa kaayo maayo mo binisaya. He went to see my Nanay, my mother because he heard that it seems I want to enter the seminary. Iyang giadto si Nanay sa likod sa among balay, nanghalay ug sinina akong nanay nagbagutbot akong nanay ingon siya nganong gida man na nimu diri dili mi magkasinabot anang iningles uy! God spoke to us but we cannot, He is God and we are not. But yet the second reading said in the past God spoke to us. I said we cannot happen, it can because opening prayer “Deep inside us we are made according to the image and likeness of God. So the middle reading is so right, God’s try to speak with us kay ila diay ta we speak the same language. And that is why during Christmas ma-touch gyud ta katong dili tig simbahan, mga gahi’g ulo. Mga palahubog dili makainom siguro ug pasko mura ta ug mabuotan because the message of Christmas speaks to us. Bisa’g buang-buang ta sa gawas but yet we are touched because the first prayer ang atong nature, ang atong character compatible with God.
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