Exhaustion

 

Yesterday was Sunday, the most important day of the week. It was supposed to be a rest day for the majority of us but not this time in our family.

My mom and I, together with my aunts, worked ourselves out as we scrub dirty walls, declutter, and continuously clean our house. Household chores were everywhere and everywhere I look there's so much things to dispose and give away.

Much to my dismay, after decluttering several times and sweeping our dust-infected home, I can still feel that there are still more. It was only by then I realized how our family have been stacking and and piling up useless things!

Thank God I was still able to attend the Holy Mass with my brother despite my tired and aching body. It really feels so good and so light when I'm in our church. I can feel all the worries, anxieties, and exhaustion being sucked out of my soul.

The rest of my afternoon I spent on my weekly Sunday walk around our neighborhood. I have been dying to get out all day but cannot because of all the household chores I never thought could be that painful. No wonder why my mom's always getting cocky and all when she's alone in the kitchen doing all the work. Well, sure, walking can be pretty tiring sometimes but there's something magical into that hobby that even my battered body cannot resist.

It was during those times that my mind flies... where it roams freely and peacefully, where it can ponder over things that really matter, where it's wounds and pains are healed by the scent or even by the sight of a tree and a white butterfly. It was truly magical.

The star's flames flickered like tiny candles scattered above my head. The soft crisp of dried brown leaves beneath my feet became a sweet song of surrender. And the cold breeze brushed against my face and embraced my whole being.

I truly miss this kind of feeling.

Misa de Gallo

Photo borrowed here

Simbang Gabi or Misa de Gallo is the Filipino tradition of nine-day dawn masses that start on December 16. Known in Spanish as the Misa de Gallo (Rooster's Mass), these masses are the most important of all Filipino Christmas traditions.

These nine dawn Masses, which start at four o'clock in the morning, are also considered as a novena by the Catholic and Aglipayan faithfuls. This refers to the Roman Catholic and Aglipayan practice of performing nine days of private or public devotion to obtain special graces.

In some parishes, the Simbang gabi begins as early as four in the morning. Going to mass this early for nine consecutive days is meant to show the churchgoer's devotion to his faith and heighten anticipation for the Nativity of the Lord. A traditional Filipino belief, however, is that completing the novena is also supposed to mean that God would grant the devotee's special wish or favor.

After hearing Mass, Filipino families partake of traditional Philippine Christmas delicacies, either during breakfast at home or immediately outside the church, where they are sold. Vendors offer a wealth of native delicacies, including bibingka (rice flour and egg based cake, cooked using coals on top and under), puto bumbong (a purple sticky rice delicacy which is steamed in bamboo tubes, with brown sugar and coconut shavings as condiments), salabat (hot ginger tea) and tsokolate (thick Spanish cocoa).

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The above article was taken from the site of Wikipilipinas.com

For more information about the Philippine's different Christmas traditions, please click here.

Unwind

I know it's very unlikely for me to write about school, but it's actually the reason why I've been out for weeks. With the Christmas vacation looming around the corner, we have a lot of catching up to do with most of our subjects. I always come home late and I'm finding it hard to have some time to slow down and reflect on my everyday just like I used to.

I'm very much preoccupied which I hate because of that tendency to neglect and overlook the details that always make me appreciate the little things in life.

I am really looking forward to that Christmas vacation.

Advent Sunday

"Happy New Year!!!"

It was Father Nong's opening greetings as he started his homily yesterday about the start of the Christmas Season. I could remember the puzzled look on every one's face as he said this. Some greeted him back "Merry Christmas" but he insisted that it was New Year.

The Advent is a holy season for the Christian church that marks the start of their new liturgical year. While it was commonly known as simply the start of the holiday seasons, the church marks it as the start of the holy period of expectant waiting and preparation for the nativity of Jesus Christ. In addition, the holy season also serves as a reminder for Christians today about the Second Coming of Jesus.

When we hear the word 'Christmas', the first things that usually come in our minds are pictures of festive and bright days of gift-giving, Christmas carols, bountiful meals during Noche Buena, colorful lights, Christmas trees, and Santa Claus. But come to think of it, does the picture of Christ, nailed and hanging up on a cross, a crown of thorns in his head and blood gushing all over his body, come to your mind when you hear the word 'Christmas'? I know it's too early to be talking about the mournful season of Semana Santa but my point is we should never forget the purpose why Our Almighty Father sent His son at the very first place.

Father Nong's main points about the season of Advent were summarized in a simple acronym he made especially for the homily yesterday. He said that we should:

* Always Anticipate for the coming of Jesus, not only during Christmas season but everyday in our lives;

* Dettach ourselves from the blinding offerings of the world. Remember that each and everyone of us were made to last forever and nothing but us, the children of God, are going to last in this world. Not our money, our computer, or any material precious to our hearts.

* Be Vigilant and always pay attention to everything that's happening around the world. We may never know but they could already be signs for the Second Coming. Signs that are too hazy for the blind and busy people of today.

* Evaluate our lives. And try to see those things that are ought to be changed.

* Change for the better and try to live our life in a New and straight way.

* Always pray and give Thanks to the Lord Almighty.

The homily was easier said than done. I guess we all know what that exactly mean. Character development takes a long time so we should always stay strong and faithful than ever.