candelaria 2014

Two points for reflection:  Una, In Jewish law when a woman gives birth to a boy she becomes unclean for forty days, from December 25 to February 2 which is the fortieth day.  Being unclean, the woman cannot enter the temple – the relationship with God so to say was broken because of the impurity, she was estranged by the birth of her child.  On the fortieth day, February 2, Mary was required by law to restore that relationship, she was required to make her relationship with God aright and for this she must go to the temple to offer a sacrifice – two turtle doves, the offering of the poor, to be offered by priests.  Only then can Mary be considered by the law and by her community as one who was reconciled and therefore one who has a right relationship with God again.  Today we commemorate this event in the life of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

This attitude of Mary, or should I even say, this preoccupation of Mary to keep herself aright with God following the customs of her time is an example for us to follow; nga indi sia mapahamtang, indi sia makapahimunong kon indi niya mapakamaayo ang iya kaangtanan sa Dios.  How many of us here would do what we can to set aright our relationship with God - nga may natural nga huyog sa aton nga dapat akon gid pakamaayuhon ang akon relasyon sa Dios sa tanan nga tion.  Nga kon nakasala ako halimbawa daw indi ako mapakale kon indi ko mapakamaayo kag ma-uli liwat ang akon relasyon sa Dios paagi sa pagpangita sang oportunidad nga makakonpesar.  Nga sa pag-abot sang adlaw sang Domingo indi ako mapahamtang sa akon kaugalingon kon indi ako makasimba kag kon indi ko mapasimba ang mga kaupod ko sa balay.  Nga kon may isa nga nagakabuhi sa sala dira sa akon panimalay, indi ako mapahamtang kon ini nga sala nagapadayon, kag kon ini wala ginahinulsolan kag ginatadlong.  This is what I mean by Mary’s  preoccupation to set aright her relationship with God.

Ikaduha, Today you will buy candles.  Let the candles be a reminder for us of the challenges of our faith.  Kon ginakabuhi mo sing matuod ang imo pagtuo mangin katulad kita sang isa ka kandila.  Ang candela nagakamatay, nagakatunaw kon ini nagahatag sing kasanag sa iban.  A candle must slowly die and vanish if it is to brighten the darkness.  Samtang nagahatag sia sing kasanag naga-amat-amat man sia nga nagakaupod.  Amo man ini ang simbolo sang isa ka kristiano nga nagakabuhi sang iya pagtuo 

When we forgive part of ourselves die out, that part which makes us proud.  When we are generous, part of ourselves die out, that part which makes us accumulate things.  When we volunteer to do parish work, part of us die, that part which makes us concerned only of ourselves and less of others.  When we love even the unlovable, part of ourselves die, that part which make us think only of ourselves, that part which makes us selfish.

It has always been our belief that to be more for God, we have to be less for ourselves.  We need to recover the sense of sacrifice in following Jesus, Mary and Joseph.