Celebrating The Christmas Light

INTRODUCTION

The Simbang Gabi masses are a very beautiful way of anticipating the birth of Jesus. Above all, they are a way of truly preparing ourselves spiritually to welcome the birth of our Lord. He is the Light who vanquishes the darkness of our world, the darkness that often attends our daily human experiences.

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The Filipino way of celebrating Christmas is quite unique in the world. For one, Christmas starts very early in the Philippines. As early as October, one already hears Christmas songs being played over the radio, in the malls

and in other public places. December 16 is always a much-awaited date, for it is the start of the Simbang Gabi masses, a beautiful and cherished Filipino Christmas tradition celebrated with much excitement and festivities.
Simbang Gabi masses are votive masses in honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary, celebrated very early in the morning (around 4 a.m.), from December 16 to 24. Liturgically, these masses are still part of the Advent Season. Very early at dawn, people come together and fill churches to overflowing capacity while it is still dark, knowing that very soon the sun will come out to dispel the darkness that surrounds them. As we approach the commemoration of the birth of our Lord, we honor Mary, the Mother of God and the “dawn” of salvation, for it was through her that the Savior was born. We come together, in the spirit of Mary, filled with a sense of heightened longing and expectation as we await the joyous birth of Jesus, the Light who will dispel the darkness of sin in our lives.

These masses are also known as Aguinaldo masses or Misa de Gallo. Aguinaldo is a Spanish term meaning gift, a Christmas gift. Thus, Simbang Gabi masses are considered as a sort of a Christmas gift of the people to God as well as God’s gift to us. Scripture says that, in the fullness of time, God sent his Son to redeem us from our sins. His Son Jesus is the Father’s greatest gift to us, for in Him, God has given us no less than Himself. In gratitude, we cannot but offer our lives to God in return. Our greatest gift to God who has given us everything cannot be other than our very selves, our lives, transformed by His love and grace. The Simbang Gabi masses should remind us that our salvation is pure gift from the Lord: He came not because we deserved His coming, but He came because he loves us and we needed Him.

The term Misa de Gallo (Mass of the Rooster) indicates that these masses are celebrated very early in the morning. But why so early in the morning? These masses are celebrated at such an early hour, among other things, because: 1) these masses have a symbolic character. Christ is the Light who overcomes the darkness of sin, the Light ushered in by Mary, the dawn of our salvation who brought forth the Light; 2) these masses have a penitential character. They encourage us to make some sacrifices by getting up so early in the morning, that we may mortify ourselves and thus render ourselves more ready and worthy to welcome the Savior who comes to save us.

The Simbang Gabi masses are indeed a very beautiful way of anticipating the birth of Jesus. Above all, they are a way of truly preparing ourselves spiritually to welcome the birth of our Lord. He is the Light who vanquishes the darkness of our world, the darkness that often attends our daily human experiences. As Christians, we are tasked to bring the Light, who is Jesus, into our Filipino world filled with the darkness of indifference and fear, injustice and corruption, massive poverty and violence. Our celebration of the Simbang Gabi poses a great challenge for us to allow the light of Christ to really penetrate and transform our lives and guide our steps.

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