The song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon” was the #1 hit
song in the US and UK for 4 weeks in 1973. It was popularized by Tony Orlando.
And according to “Billboard Music Magazine,” it is one of the biggest songs of
all time.
This song is a
ballad, told from the point of view of a prisoner who has completed his 3-year
sentence but is uncertain if he will be welcomed home.
He wrote to his
love, asking her to tie a yellow ribbon around the “ole oak tree” in front of
the house (which the bus, bringing him home from prison, will pass by) if she
wants him still to return to her life. If he does not see such a ribbon, he
will remain on the bus (taking that to mean he is unwelcome). He asks the bus
driver to check, fearful of not seeing anything.
To his amazement,
the entire bus cheers the response – there are actually 100 yellow ribbons
around the tree, a sign he is very much welcome!
Long before this
song acquired a political color for Ninoy and Cory Aquino (Edsa and People
Power for that matter), its original meaning was that of welcome. It tells the story of unconditional acceptance and
sincere love.
As we start the
Misa de Gallo days, I would like to begin with the theme of Welcome. I would
have wanted to give each of you, instead of yellow, a violet ribbon – para way politica (pero daghan ra mu kaayo).
But imagine you are receiving
directly from me a Violet Ribbon
(Dia ra ha. Dawata ninyo). I would like you to put that around your heart –
symbolically (Ibugkos). Ready! In 3 counts – 6, 7, 8. Wear it proudly. It means
“Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!” You
are showing Jesus: I am welcoming you in my heart!
This is what the
Misa de Gallo is all about.. it’s about
preparing our hearts. It’s about welcoming Christ dearly and lovingly. I
would like to leave you 3 thoughts: Let’s welcome Jesus; Let’s be Close to Him
and Let us Become like Him.
1. Let us Welcome Jesus
The Misa de Gallo
is about preparing for a meaningful
Christmas. It may sound a cliché but its true: Christ is the reason for
this season. There are other preparations we are invited to do for the coming
special events in the years to come: In
2016 – Cebu will be the host of the 51st International
Eucharistic Congress. We are expecting Pope Francis to come and visit us. Don’t
you think we need to prepare to welcome the Vicar of Christ? Last time was in
1981!
A much challenging
preparation is 2021: the 5th
centenary or 500 years of Christianization of the Philippines since March 1521.
We have started our count down since last year.. we are, in fact, in a 9-year
journey of preparation as we remember the 1st Mass in Limasawa
Island; the 1st Cebuano Baptism of Rajah Humabon and Haraj Amihan
who took the names Carlos and Juana. And we remember the gift of the Sto Nino
in our shores.
2. Let us Be Close to Him
Connected to our
welcome is our desire to be close to
Jesus. During the ordination of our new priest, Fr. Rosmon Valenciano, in
the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes – Bishop Patrick Buzon shared the experience
he heard from Archbishop John Du of the Palo, Leyte. Despite the devastation of
many houses and Churches in Palo, Archbishop John told his priests to continue
celebrating Holy Mass in their parishes. “The people need food, water and
shelter.. but more than that the people
need Jesus! Because Jesus will give them strength.”
Nanimbawot jud
akong balhibo pagsulti nya ana.. We need
Jesus. It is Jesus who can give us extraordinary strength in extraordinary
circumstance. Jesus will give us power to rise above our storms. These days,
let us come to Mass. Let us come to Jesus. Let us feel close to Jesus.
3. Let us Become Like Him
More than just
being close to Jesus, our biggest challenge is to be like Him. Year 2014 is the Year of the Laity. CBCP President
Archbishop Socrates Villegas wishes to remind all of you – lay people – of your
basic Christian dignity in his recent Pastoral Exhortation. He challenges all Filipino Catholic Laity: “you are
called to be saints and send forth as heroes.” He begins in his letter by
describing the present situation of the Catholic Laity in the Philippines.
He describes it as
a “paradox of poverty and abundance.”
Yes we are a poor country but we have two jewels in our rags: our music and our faith.. thus he says
with conviction “the first and most important truth about you Filipino Catholic
laity is not poverty but the greatness
of your dignity. This dignity derives from God’s unmerited choice of you to
belong to God’s holy people.” Our faith makes us rich. Jesus is the source of
our wealth!
One morning, I woke
up and there was a strong compelling voice in my mind commanding me: “Randy, you should begin to seriously walk
in holiness.” I felt a deep anguish and fear. I know I am still a lukewarm
follower of Jesus.
I looked at myself:
I’m 45 years old – soon I’ll be 50! I asked myself, at my age what legacy can I
leave when I’m gone? This thought came to me: kanindot unta – what if ma-santo
ko. Mabutang jud tingali sa mapa ang Bantayan Island – ang birthplace sa
soon-to-be St. Randy Figuracion!
Kidding aside,
during my seminary days in Canlubang, there was a quotation on top of the
Rector’s Office which I have memorized: “We only live once. If we live right,
once is enough.” That morning, I felt the commanding voice of Jesus inviting me
to “seriously walk in holiness,” that means to be more Christ-like.. I’m also
inviting all of you. Let’s walk together. Dungan ta – as they say “the more the
merrier.”
Brothers and
sisters, today as you go home bring your
violet ribbon at home. Tie it in at the door entrance of your homes, in your
drawers – in a place where it is visible. Let it remind you of 2 things:
1.
You are committed to welcome Jesus
with joy
2.
You are committed to live for Jesus –
to become like Jesus!
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