Misa de Gallo has been a huge part of the culture and tradition of Filipino Catholics in celebrating the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Believing that our wishes could be granted, people eagerly wake up in the morning to attend and complete the mass for nine consecutive days.
On the first day of Misa de Gallo, which also happened to be the Gaudete Sunday, Rev. Fr. Lopito “Bembol” Hiteroza, Parish Priest of Diocesan Shrine and Parish of Nuestra Señora de Aranzazu, reiterated on his homily the full meaning of rejoicing.
With the use of Barbie doll as an example, Fr. Bembol explained the three kinds of people and their level of listening. There were kinds of people wherein after listening for a while, the message they’ve heard would actually be forgotten because they are not paying attention to the message delivered by the source. While for some people, they only repeat the things that they’ve heard without absorbing the knowledge that they could get from it. On the other hand, Fr. Bembol wants us to be the type of people wherein we live by the words or the meaningful things that we’ve learned from the church.
As we live our lives with those teachings, is there a time that we ask ourselves… “Am I happy?” “Am I contented on the things that I have?” The right answer is… we should be.
“Dapat po may kasiyahan, may kagalakan sa ating puso. Mangyayari lamang po iyon kung tayo’y hindi mapag-alab. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa biyayang ipinagkakaloob ng Panginoon at iyon po ang ibabahagi natin.” Fr. Bembol said.
In this context, we should let the feeling of joyfulness reside in our hearts for it enables us to grasp the main essence of the birth of our Messiah.
On the other hand, Lhoel Bosano shared that being able to attend the first day of Misa de Gallo is a “fulfilling experience” for him as he had the chance to come to church with his friends and family after a long period of time.
Flint Osric Gorospe
Senior Writer, Website Team - Media Ministry
Flint is an 18 year-old journalism student from the Polytechnic University of the Philippines. He is also a developing writer, actor, singer, photographer and a church servant. Started as a young member of Tanghalang Aranzazu, Flint had developed his craft throughout the years and expanded his networks as he joined in different church organizations. Currently, he is the Secretary of Avant Garde Singers and also a member of Ministry of Altar Servers, Tanghalang Aranzazu and Media and Public Information Ministry.
