1st Day of Simbang Gabi (December 16, 2023)

I once attended a holy retreat facilitated by a bishop. He was rather very humble and unassuming one. In fact, his appearance was very simple. And I could not forget one of the anecdotes he shared. One time, he said, when he was just new to the diocese, a sister paid him a visit in order to meet and greet him. The sister brought a lot of gifts with her: there was a sack of rice, baskets of vegetables and fruits, etc. It so happened that the bishop was just right in front of his residence doing gardening, and so he was just in his working clothes. When the sister alighted from tricycle, the bishop met her and asked her the purpose of her visit. And she said: “I want to visit the bishop. And here are my pasalubong for him.” And she continued, “Manong, can you please call the bishop for me. And meanwhile, please carry all these gifts from me to the kitchen.” The unrecognized bishop obliged to carry on his shoulder the sack of rice, and held the basket of vegetables and fruits with his other hand. Afterwards, another boy was sent to tell the sister to enter the office and wait while the bishop is dressing up. After some minutes, the door to the office opened. And lo and behold, the bishop now dressed up with his slacks and clerical shirt entered extending his hand to the sister. In embarrassment, the sister almost fainted.

Indeed, it is to our embarrassment if we have waited for someone – finally he came and we have not even recognized him. Our shame would be worse, if we not only recognized him but we also maltreated him. If this kind of incident happens, certainly we would wish for ourselves to melt down or disappear. Well, such is the case in the gospel. The Jews had long waited for the Messiah. They knew pretty well that the Messiah’s coming would be paved by Elijah or by someone like Elijah. However, Elijah came in the person of John the Baptist. However, people couldn’t help but compare John to Elijah who was an awesome figure. He appeared like fire. His words were charged with divine power. And at the end of his life, he did not die, but he was taken aloft in a whirlwind of fire. While on the other hand, John was simply dressed in camel’s hair. Locusts and wild honey were his usual meal. And he declared: he was not the one they were waiting for, but somebody mightier than him, whose sandals he is not worthy to unfasten. And so, they snubbed at John and so at Jesus. Here then, we have a very sad story. The most awaited Messiah came but passed unnoticed because they did not recognize Him.

Yes, it is very tempting to conclude that God’s ways are always presented in fanfare and glorious manners. And it is so difficult for us to recognize God’s hands working in suffering and pain. Jesus wants to teach us an alternative in seeing things. God does not present Himself always in glamorous manner. Usually, in fact, the ways of God are low profile, the unexpected one, the unpopular one. No wonder, when He comes, He is usually unrecognized.

My dear friends, Christ keeps on coming. In various forms He pays us a visit. Therefore, to save us from future embarrassment and regrets, let us try our very best to recognize him, and receive Him well. Who knows, He could be the person already right next to you.

To be able to recognize Jesus even in the least likely circumstance is a privilege. It is a privilege indeed because recognizing Him – he is actually allowing us to witness something great. When He allowed Himself to be seen by the three apostles at the Transfiguration – He was preparing them for His Passion and Resurrection. When He allowed himself to be recognized by Peter as the Messiah – He was preparing Peter actually to be the Rock, the foundation of His Church.

Hence, let us be on the look-out always. Jesus might be passing our way in forms we don’t know. And we should not miss Him, otherwise we will be missing so much. Maybe we will be missing that which he has been preparing for us for a long time already.

Furthermore, we should be on the look-out this advent. Let us prepare ourselves, because surely, he is coming to present something very special this Christmas. May our preparation be not only about buying and giving gifts, going to parties, and wearing new clothes. May our preparation be more serious and more interior like that of John when he said: “He must increase, I must decrease.” For Jesus Christ to increase in our lives, we should diminish our desire to be recognized and acknowledged, our desire to accumulate and achieve. And when we are able to do so, the spirit of Advent and Christmas, which is about joy, love, and peace, will definitely glow in our hearts.