FOR my Pastor’s Notes this 4th Sunday of Advent, let me share you this reflection I wrote several years ago:
My best Christmas gift in December 2011 was not a gadget, nor a nice polo shirt or a sweater. It was not a gift card either, nor a ticket to a concert. It was something different.
My Christmas gift came in the form of a visit from someone I met a long time ago, during my years as a young associate pastor. He used to be known as Jonathan but has since changed his name to Stanislaus.
Back then, Jonathan was still in grade school when I served in his parish. He and his sister were active members of the Church — Jonathan was an altar server, and Joanna Belle was a member of the youth group. Their parents were also involved in a prayer group.
I used to joke with Jonathan when he would serve at Mass. I would say to him: “Jonathan, you’ll make a good priest.” He would respond with a smile and tell me, “Hmm, you think so, Father? I’ll think about it.”
When I left the parish, I knew Jonathan went to a local Catholic school and continued to be involved in church activities. I also heard that he took my advice seriously and entered the seminary.
Life went by. I got transferred to different parishes, took further studies, and became involved with many things. I would think about Jonathan from time to time, wondering if he ever continued with his seminary studies.
A few days before Christmas, I got a Facebook message from his sister. Jonathan was going to be in town. He was ordained to the priesthood on December 14th and wanted to see me. I sent a message to his sister and his parents. “I’d love to stand next to Jonathan, now Fr. Stanislaus, while he’s celebrating a Mass,” I wrote back.
My early Christmas gift came. Jonathan went to see me with his parents, in his priestly garb. I could not believe my eyes—the young Jonathan is now a priest at age 29!
I invited Jonathan and his family to the rectory to have a private moment with them. I watched Jonathan with wonder. I could not hold back tears. “Jonathan, you’re now a priest!” I whispered to him. I was amazed and speechless.
During the Mass, Jonathan shared in his homily how I inspired him to become a priest — how it all started with me and how grateful he is. What a double Christmas gift to hear these words!
God has a way of surprising us. A few days before Jonathan visited me, I shed tears before an 8th Grade class, telling them the sad news — one of their classmates, Klein Lapitan, lost his battle with leukemia. They were tears of pain, from seeing one of my school children die.
Who would’ve known that days later, I would be shedding tears of joy for a former student, who is now a holy priest of God?
“The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; upon those who dwelt in the land of gloom, a light has shone.”
Isaiah’s prophecy repeats itself, not just in great moments of history, but in our everyday experiences.
(From Walking With God: The Journey of A Priest’s Heart)
May your Christmas be filled with awe, wonder, and gratitude to God for his many gifts in your life! May God surprise you, not just with material things, but with profound and abundant experiences of grace, often obtained through ordinary human experiences!
* * *
Fr. Rodel “Odey” Balagtas is the pastor of Incarnation Church in Glendale, California.
