|
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Hermogeno: Simbang Gabi
By Lorna C. Hermogeno
IF THERE is something I missed about being a Catholic, it is the Christmases at dawn also known as "Simbang Gabi", which I used to attend with my brothers and sisters when we were growing up kids in Dagupan.
When I became a born again Christian in 1994, I started drifting apart from the practice.
But I do miss the mass every Christmas morning wherein after the mass, you get to sip hot "tsokolate" and eat sumptuous "puto bumbong".
You get to meet your crushes too at the church gate and parade brandishing with your new clothes or sweatshirts.
But have we ever stopped to ponder about what "Simbang Gabi" really means to us Christians? I am posing this question to the younger generation because most of us who go to "Simbang Gabi" are no longer aware of the real essence of these dawn masses.
I heard a lot of people say they go to these masses because they have a prayer of petition.
Well, I can't fault them for that. Most of us are still stuck with the belief that if we do a certain sacrifice, in this case waking up early every morning, God will answer and grant our petitions.
But Christmas itself or the birth of Christ is the unparalleled gift of God to humanity. We should go to church to thank him for the wonderful things we received throughout the year.
If we go to church to ask for God's blessings in exchange for our efforts, aren't we in effect attempting to reciprocate God's kindness with our own minute sacrifices?
I don't mean to disparage the people who are going to "Simbang Gabi". I still believe that it is one time of the year where we are afforded the chance to be with our family and hear mass. What I meant was, God will grant our wishes because He is a gracious and omnipotent God and not because He is obligated to or just to return favor. Well, just thinking out loud...
(E-mail the author @ lorns_hermogeno@yahoo.com)
(December 21, 2004 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
|
