My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today is the seventh day of our Simbang Gabi. We are getting closer to the manger. Our three words f...
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today is the seventh day of our Simbang Gabi. We are getting closer to the manger. Our three words for today are Praise, Presentation, and Poverty.
First, Praise. In today’s Gospel, we hear the Magnificat, Mary’s great song of praise. "My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord." Notice that Mary does not praise God because she is now wealthy or famous. She praises Him because He has looked upon her "lowliness." True praise comes not from having everything we want, but from realizing that God is everything we need. In these final days of preparation, stop asking for things and start praising God for who He is.
Second, Presentation. In the first reading, Hannah presents her son Samuel to the Lord. She prayed desperately for a child, and when God answered, she didn’t hoard the gift. She gave him back. "For this child I prayed... now I give him to the Lord." This is a challenge for us this Christmas. When we receive blessings—be it a 13th-month pay, a bonus, or simply time with family—do we hoard it? Or do we present it back to God by sharing it with others?
Finally, Poverty. Both Hannah and Mary speak of the "poor" and the "lowly" being lifted up. This is the logic of God. He bypasses the proud and the rich to find a home among the humble (the anawim). As we rush to buy expensive gifts, let us remember that the greatest gift we can offer Jesus is the poverty of our own hearts—admitting that without Him, we are nothing.
Action: Today, identify one blessing you received this year and "present" it back to God by sharing a portion of it with someone in need.
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