December 16, 2014
Every year, Filipinos look forward to December 16, the start of Simbang Gabi, or Misa de Gallo. There are those who go there to lift their petitions to the Lord. Others go there to give thanks for prayers and requests granted. Others go because their friends and family wake up early to join the rest of the church-goers complete this morning mass practice until the 24th of December. Like the joyful church bells that greet everyone, hope, prayer, faith, love greet every 16th of December here.
Overseas Filipinos would have loved to be among those who wake up early to join the Misa de Gallo. They wake up early, however, to go to work , to do their best each day so that their loved ones back home, back in the Philippines, can enjoy their Simbang Gabi, their Christmas and have comfortable prosperous days and years ahead. Do please include our overseas Filipinos as well in your prayers this Christmas season?
There are those in Mindanao who remember December 16thfor another reason. Cousin Froilan Gallardo shared what he remembers of December 16, 2011. His words: "Tonight (December 16th), I remembered when the flood waters inundated the riverside villages of Cagayan de Oro and Iligan three years ago. Sendong became a bitter experience for many of us. Today, I wrote stories as my personal tribute to those who died. My way of expressing that I did not forget that tragic night. After shooting some photos on Ground Zero in Cala-cala, Tibasak earlier tonight, Jb R. Deveza and I talked about what we did during Sendong. JB remembered his experience coming into a room full of bodies of children at Sumo Funeral Homes. My first idea that something horrible happened came when I saw bodies strewn on the watery graves. The scenes we saw were gut wrenching for us who are used to seeing deaths and disasters…Three years later, the residents and even the victims have already moved on. The crowd attending the vigil in Cala-cala are getting fewer and fewer. One day, (someday) what happened on the night of Dec. 16 and the early morning of Dec. 17 will fade in Cagayan de Oro's collective memory."
Again, can we all include the victims of typhoons and other disasters in our prayers this Christmas, that each day will find them stronger to move on beyond their grief, pain, and loss.
In another part of this world, this year's December 16th will be remembered in Sydney Australia as the end of the hostage taking inside a café. While grateful and relieved that the drama ended with most of the 17 hostages safe and rescued, still the violent perpetrator caused the deaths of 2 others. Shall we also include prayers for world peace, for end to war and terror, for the victims of violence and hatred especially during this season of love and hope?
Before this year's December 16th ended, in Pakistan, about 132 schoolchildren were mercilessly shot by Taliban militants who wanted to get their revenge for the Pakistani military's aggressive offensive vs. the Talibans. Why punish and involve the children? What kind of religion allows for the murder of the innocents or for that matter, for killing any human being?
During the reign of Herod, innocent children were also mercilessly killed because Herod feared that the newborn Baby Jesus would take over his power and position. We remember the slaughtered innocents every December 28 each year.
This year, however, we add December 16th as another day to pay tribute to the hundreds of children killed by those who want power and control for their brand of religion. Those who insist on their gods, those who claim earthly power have, time and again, caused the murder of human beings, including hundreds and more of innocent children among the victims.
From today and from this year on, let us include and pray for the Pakistani children murdered by hatred and fanaticism and millions of other children throughout the world suffering and dying from hunger, strife, wars, and other human-created woes and ills.
This year's December 16th has broadened our reason for this season: to pray, pray, pray more that love, hope, faith take over the hatred and greed in everyone's hearts that result in human-made disasters, murders, grief, and loss.
May tomorrow and next year's December 16th and all other days be happy days to look forward to.
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