THERE were a lot of people at the LA Cathedral on Thursday, December 15. The rain did not stop them, mostly our kababayans, from coming to the opening Mass of Simbang Gabi. By the time that representatives of different Filipino organizations and ministries paraded their parols, accompanied by the triumphant voices of choir members from Our Lady of the Angels Region, the church was packed wall to wall.
What a great testimony of faith! The American Church cannot deny and ignore anymore the presence, the gifts, and the leadership that we, Filipinos, bring to the Church. Among those who were present were about 40 Filipino priests serving in different capacities as pastors and leaders of ministries and institutions. There were also Filipino seminarians who served the Mass.
Our lay people have exercised a strong leadership in organizing the Opening Mass of Simbang Gabi. We, the clergy, owe them our profound gratitude for the success and vibrancy of our Simbang Gabi Masses throughout the archdiocese.
It’s their faith as Catholics that is so inspiring. In response to the question of Bishop Edward Clark during his homily at the cathedral: “What did you go out to see? More than a parade or a tradition?”
I’d say, “Yes, bishop, we witnessed more than the parade of elegant, colorful, and lighted parols; more than the jubilant and nostalgic music of the choir; more than a custom or a tradition. We witnessed what’s deeply rooted in the lives and hearts of Filipino people: a Catholic faith that is alive, persevering, persistent and, yes, as you want us to demonstrate, patient!”
Of course, the Church needs to bring up the challenges of our faith. And I hope that we, Filipinos here in the U.S., in the Philippines, and all over the world, would be courageous to take up these challenges.
Our biggest challenge is to live out our faith more truly and faithfully according to the Gospel of Jesus. Our biggest challenge is to put our faith into action such as honesty, cleanliness, and justice in government and politics; integrity and charity in church life; and fidelity in marriages and other forms of relationship. Our biggest challenge is to live the life of mercy that the church has preached to us in the past year such as respect for life in all stages; forgiveness to those who have wronged us; jobs, housing and health benefits for all.
We cannot be believing the tenets of our faith and not practicing them. Otherwise, we become false witnesses of our faith. In the Gospel of John Jesus told the Jews: “But I have testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father gave me to accomplish, these works that I perform testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.” (John 5:36)
The works that Jesus was referring to were those we heard in the Gospel last Sunday: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them. (See Matthew 11:2-11).
It’s certainly the virtue of patience that we need to fulfill the challenges of our faith. We must never give up and be swayed by pessimism, indifference, fear, and despair. We must continue to be like John the Baptist–valiant, courageous, and truthful.
May the Simbang Gabi Masses inspire us all to be genuine witnesses of the truth: the person, the teachings, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the Messiah!
* * *
From a Filipino immigrant family, Reverend Rodel G. Balagtas was ordained to the priesthood from St. John’s Seminary in 1991. He served as Associate Pastor at St. Augustine, Culver City (1991-1993); St. Martha, Valinda (1993-1999); and St. Joseph the Worker, Canoga Park (1999-2001). In 2001, he served as Administrator Pro Tem of St. John Neumann in Santa Maria, CA, until his appointment as pastor of ImmAaculate Heart of Mary, Los Angeles, in 2002, which lasted 12 years. His term as Associate Director of Pastoral Field Education at St. John’s Seminary began in July 2014.
