The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1)
Read Psalm 23: Click here.
There are generally three types of religious observance: solemnity, feast and the commemoration. The Filipinos might have been a little confused that the feast of nativity (pascua de natividad) was in a novena mass. Some Catholics view Christmas as an "observance of solemnity" that includes "Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation" which includes Christmas. However, in the General Norms for the Liturgical Year and the New General Roman Calendar issued by Pope Paul VI in 1969 hindi naka-novena (nine) ang Christmas festivity (recall 'yung siyam na Simbang Gabi) but "octave" meaning walong araw ang observance, hindi siyam or novena. According to the the Catholic Encyclopedia, "octave has more of the festal character; to the novena [however] belongs that of hopeful mourning, of yearning, of prayer. "The number nine in Holy Writ is indicative of suffering and grief" (St. Jerome, in Ezech., vii, 24; — P.L., XXV, 238, cf. XXV, 1473).”
For many Filipinos Christmas has become a big festal event na may mga banda pa sa madaling araw, mga parol, mga ilaw, puto bumbong atbp. Most importantly sa tingin ko sa mga pamilyang Pilipino, hindi pwede mawala ang noche buena feast -- kainan ng mga masasarap na pagkain from hamon, quezo de bola, lumpia, pansit, spaghetti, barbecue. Literally, "night of goodness," ang noche buena gives a time for the Filipino to look at the goodness of the past and anticipate good things in the coming year.
The Jewish roots of Christianity was a culture of festivals. Nang mahiyang ang mga Pilipino sa Spanish culture, they created festivals out of religious events that was not really designed to be festivals. We did it in community settings and we did it in private settings like the noche buena. We have a culture na hiyang sa pag-celebrate ng mga magagandang bagay.
Nawa'y ngayong noche buena, magkaroon tayo ng time to thank God for the coming of Christ into the world in that Bethlehem night and the many things Christ has done for us. Let it be a night of goodness because of the Christ of goodness.
MGA KATANUNGAN SA PSALM 23
- Pakilista ang mga mga actions ng Diyos sa speaker ng Psalm.
- Ano ang napansin mong overall na assurance na galing sa Diyos ang mayroon ang speaker ng Psalm?
- Ano ang mga parallel na karanasan ng speaker ng Psalm sa iyong recent na mga experience with God?
CELEBRATE THE NIGHT OF GOODNESS WITH THE CHRIST OF GOODNESS
Related:
Preface to 9-Day Devotional
Day One - "Maaga Kami Kinabukasan: Simbang Gabi"
Day Two - "Puto Bumbong"
Day Three - "Christmas Tree and Lights"
Day Four - "Parol"
Day Five - "Carol"
Day Six - "Regalo at Aguinaldo"
Day Seven - "Santa Claus"
Day Eight - "Belen"
Day Nine - "Noche Buena"
No comments:
Post a Comment