MY CHRISTMAS LIST

1.  CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS!-  DON’T GET  ME WRONG BUT IT’S NOT WHAT’S IN IT THAT I’M  AFTER  BUT IT’S MORE  WHAT I FEEL BEFORE I STICK MY HAND INSIDE IT  THAT  JUST MAKES MY KNEES WEAK WITH EXCITEMENT!  I TOTALLY LOVE THAT FEELING!  PROBLEM  IS MY MOM  DECIDED WE’RE TOO OLD FOR IT SINCE  ABOUT FIVE YEARS AGO AND STOPPED THAT CHRISTMAS TRADITION.  SOB !!  I WANT IT BACK!  HEAR THAT SANTA!?

2.  PLAZA HOPPING-  WE USED TO GO AROUND THE  DIFFERENT TOWNS  OF ILOILO JUST TO SEE THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN THE  PLAZA  AT NIGHT.  THE BEST PART IS THE FOOD…ITS EVERYWHERE!! AND IF WE’RE  LUCKY THEY ALSO HAVE THE CARNIVAL  FOR THE  FIESTA..RIDES AND COTTON  CANDY,  A PERFECT MATCH!  OF COURSE THAT WAS THE TIME  WHEN  WE STILL  HAD OUR  CAR AND WE COULD  GO ANYWHERE AT ANYTIME BUT NOW  NO CAR…  SO THAT CHANGES THINGS A BIT.

3.  DINAGYANG  PRACTICES-  WE  ALSO GO AROUND THE CITY  TO FIND THE TRIBES  THAT PRACTICE AT NIGHT.  WE DANCE TO THE BEAT OF THE DRUMS.   I COULD  FEEL MY TRIBAL ROOTS  SURFACING!  AGAIN NO CAR..  WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF A NEW CAR  FOR CHRISTMAS?  SLIM AS AN ANOREXIC MODEL …SIGH!

4.  GIFTS, GIFTS AND MORE  GIFTS-   I KNOW I JUST PLACED THE QUOTE THAT SAYS THINGS SHOULDN’T  BE THE FOCUS OF THE SEASON.   BUT WHAT CAN  I SAY, IT  JUST AIN’T CHRISTMAS WITHOUT THE GIFTS!  CUT ME SOME SLACK, I’M ONLY FOURTEEN, I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE EGOISTIC!

SECOND WEEK OF ADVENT: JOY

“ IF , AS HEROD, WE FILL OUR  LIVES WITH THINGS, AND AGAIN WITH THINGS; WE CONSIDER OURSELVES SO UNIMPORTANT THAT WE MUST FILL EVERY MOMENT OF OUR LIVES WITH ACTION, WHEN  WILL WE HAVE TIME TO MAKE THE LONG, SLOW JOURNEY ACROSS THE DESERT AS DID THE MAGI?  OR SIT AND WATCH THE STARS AS DID THE SHEPHERDS?  OR BROOD OVER THE COMING  OF THE CHILD AS DID MARY?  FOR  EACH  OF US THERE IS A DESERT TO TRAVEL  A STAR TO DISCOVER.  AND A BEING WITHIN OURSELVES TO BRING TO LIFE.”


                                                           AUTHOR UNKNOWN

Archangels

FROM A HOMILY ON SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT, POPE

You should be aware that the word “angel” denotes a function rather than a nature. Those holy spirits of heaven have indeed always been spirits. They can only be called angels when they deliver some message. Moreover, those who proclaim message of supreme importance are call archangels.

And so it was that not merely an angel but the archangel Gabriel was sent to the Virgin Mary. It was only fitting that the highest angel should come to announce the greatest of all messages.

Some angels are given proper names to denote the service they are empowered to perform. In that holy city, where perfect knowledge flows from the vision of almighty God, those who have no names may easily be known. But personal names are assigned to some, not because they could  not be known without them, but rather to denote their ministry when they come among us. Thus, Michael means “Who is like God?” ; Gabriel is “The strength of God” ; and Raphael is “ God’s remedy.”

Whenever some act of wondrous power must be performed, Michael is sent, so that his action and his name may make it clear that no one can do what God does by His superior power. So also our ancient foe desired in his pride to be like God , saying: I will scale the heavens; above the stars of God I will set up my throne; I will be like the most high(Is 14:13.14). He will be allowed to remain in power until the end of the world when he will be destroyed in the final punishment. Then, he will fight with the archangel Michael, as we are told by john: Michael and his angels battled against the dragon (Rev 12:7).

So too Gabriel, who is called God’s strength, was sent to Mary. He came to announce the One who appeared as a humble man to quell the cosmic powers. Thus God’s strength announced the coming of the Lord of the heavenly powers, mighty in battle.

Raphael means, as I have said, God’s remedy, for when he touched  Tobit’s eye in order to cure him, he banished the darkness of his blindness. Thus, since he is the healer, he is rightly called God’s remedy.