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Friday, December 26, 2008

The Christmas I Got Slapped


Our parish priest was an hour late for mass on Christmas morning. He was the only priest left in our parish since all the others went home to their families. Martyr po siya. He said he just wanted them to be happy that's why he allowed them to go, so he ended up tending to all the masses in the parish. He's still quite young that's why he can handle everything, but he gives the best sermon (and we usually spend about 90 minutes in Church with him every Sunday). It's like being slapped every single week, and I mean that in a positive way.

Today (since I'm still up even though it's the 26th already) he gave a very important reminder that Christmas is not about YOU. It's not about sulking in your room singing Pasko na Sinta Ko or ranting to your best friend that your still a member ofSMC (Samahan ng Malalamig ang Pasko). Or for those who are sad because their loved ones are away. Christmas is not about that, it's all about Jesus. His birth. His coming. His BIRTHDAY! 

See that's why I feel like I'm being slapped awake whenever I get a chance to listen to Fr. Ramon's homily. All these years I had mistakenly equated Christmas with MY own happiness. There was even a time I dreaded Christmas coz I was also a member of the SMC and was just plain unhappy with how things were going in my life. 

Fr. Ramon proceeded to tell us that during Christmas you HAVE to be happy. Because you have EVERY RIGHT to be happy. It's the time to celebrate His birth. Remember when you were a kid how happy and excited you were. Helping Mom decorate. Eating half the food in the kitchen even before it's served. Staying up waiting for Santa Claus. Going to Cubao to watch the puppet show/display on the mall's frontage (it's in Greenhills now). Driving down Ayala just to see the lights. Learning how to wrap gifts. Carolling. 

When I was a kid everyone in our street put an effort in placing Christmas lights and lanterns. The number has been dwindling through the years. And I think only about 3 to 4 houses placed Christmas lights outside (we almost didn't). Fr. Ramon said it just goes to show that people have forgotten what Christmas is for. 

I was teary eyed when we stood up to sing "Angels we have Heard on High" once again. I felt like a huge burden was taken off my shoulders. I finally realized what Christmas is really for. 

Happy Birthday Jesus! Thank you for being there despite all my you-know

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Oh and Fr. Ramon saluted all the couples who attended the mass together. I noticed that most of those who attended mass this morning were indeed senior citizen couples who are still very much together after all these years. That's one of my dreams. 

Here's my Mom and Dad on Christmas Day. They will be celebrating their 49th wedding anniversary next weekend.  


And this is me just being a kid again.


I hope I managed to make my boys really happy this Christmas. One got a gadget (a pen tablet and I guess I'll blog about it over at YGT). The other one got this uber cool Optimus Prime die cast thingy (original Transformers and not from the movie, collector's item the clerk said, I'm glad my best friend's husband helped me get it). 



And guess who got it! Merry Christmas!

11 comments:

  1. Anonymous7:40 AM

    Don't tell me Optimus Prime is for JayDJ and the Tablet is for Miggy?.. nyaaah... I'm envious ....hehehe Happy Holidays! May everyday be a holiday for you =)

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  2. I believe the priest when he says that we have every Right to be happy. It is our given right. That's why I chose to be happy over misery. It's difficult task for others though and I can't blame them either.

    On another note, I love the colors you all chose to wear for Christmas. You and your parents show glowing happiness.

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  3. our priest here is 3 hours late ahahahaha.

    btw, great item for jaydj...astig!!!!

    meri xmas!!!

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  4. You know what, a priest said some time ago that they are the loneliest bunch during the holidays because after they say the midnight mass, people run off to their families to celebrate while they're left behind in the kumbento. Tragic, di ba?

    Congratulations to your parents on their anniversary!

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  5. @yolynne well! kanya-kanya silang hilig hihihi

    @noemi dado that's true!

    @azrael 3 hours! grabeh!!! he liked it! me happy!

    @em dy ahhh, but they do have fun too at the kumbento. I used to do our parish newsletter and got a lot of behind the scenes stuff from their stories. masarap makipag-kwentuhan sa mga priest :D

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  6. It's really about Him. How He came and saved us. And that should make us happy.

    God bless and a joyful Christmas!

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  7. You are right. It's about Him. He came to be the Saviour of the world. This is the reason to be happy.

    Merry Christmas!

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  8. ey aileen! pahiram ng fruitcake album ahahah :P - kapitbahay mo

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  9. @jun asis Hello! Long time no see! =)

    @ilay mare, libro siya eh, meron ako MP3 ng Fruitcake (shhhh!) hehehe

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  10. I never go to church anymore since college. I dunno why. Maybe if I get slapped like you I would.
    ^_^v


    Stay HAPPY and SMILE! Drop by http://www.kumagcow.com and http://techcow.blogspot.com thanks! :)

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  11. @kumagcow it's a phase you are going through, I'm sure you'll be back soon (I went throught that too)

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