A DIfferent Simbang Gabi

Usually it begins December 16 until the morning of 24^th (at Gesu its December 15-23). For the past 10 years (I think) I have completed all the nine mornings of Simbang Gabi, and all for different reasons (they say that the reason they want to complete it because they have a special favor to ask from God). But now there are no special favors, no special intentions, just attending the nine masses of Simbang Gabi.

I remember the Simbang Gabi with my family, it was really a family tradition. As early as grade 3 I think, my first year to complete Simbang Gabi. Well of course together with my Lola, my Mom and my siblings and cousins. When I was growing (high school years) I was going to Simbang Gabi mass with my brother and our friends. Simbang Gabi will never be complete without the usual puto-bumbong and bibingka. And sometimes after the mass, my kuya will treat me to a nearby carinderia and eat some palabok, or spaghetti, or goto, and of course with my barkada. The college was different, it was going to mass with special someone and both of you will complete the nine mornings, and sometimes it was a family affair (together with my parents or her parents) and those were my memories of Simbang Gabi.

Simbang Gabi is different for me now. Mornings are allotted to our apostolate areas, (Payatas and Montalban) I wake up as early as 245am to have mass with the people. At night the usual Simbang Gabi at the Gesu, I always drop everything (when its 730pm) to prepare for the Gesu masses. I am going not for any particular reasons, no particular intentions but just for the sake of going to mass. Its different because I am not with my family, nor with my friends, or with a “special someone” (yeah dream on…) even there are no palabok spaghetti, goto, puto bumbong or bibingka. With the only reason I go to Simbang Gabi Mass is Him, it may sound cheesssy but yes, its Him. Though it maybe tiring at times, but it was for Him. Not for me, not for anyone else, but simply Him. Why is that so? Maybe this year I have experienced the God is a loving God, and simply be an "Emmanuel" for me especially those trying times.

He is indeed the reason for this season.