The Night Was Dark; The Wind Was Cold And Crisp

My mom blurted out, “O may simbang gabi tayo ha!” That reminded me that we are on the third night of the Simbang Gabi series, which Filipinos are fond of patronizing every single year. As for me, it’s my first night as my fully-loaded sched was only cleared yesterday.

The service already commenced when I ushered myself in the church. The night was dark; the wind was cold and crisp. It was only tonight when it struck me that it’s getting colder by the day. Probably, this indecisive weather is the primary reason why I’m getting the sniffles, coughs, and colds.

Every Christmas season, we go through a refresher course at church. Every Christmas season, ministers help us grasp that until we are settled with the fact that our Savior, Jesus Christ, was born to die to save you and I, Christmas will never amount to anything. But we’re missing another significant character here. Perhaps, he’s as significant as the magis. The preacher read from Matthew chapter 2. While quoting Matthew chapter 2 verse 3, she emphasized the word “disturbed or troubled.” King Herod, upon hearing the birth of the ‘King of the Jews,’ became distraught and troubled. In all likelihood, he could have refused to eat or to drink for days until he was certain that baby Jesus was dead. Yes. The third person is no less than…drum rolls…King Herod.

To King Herod, the birth of Jesus meant losing control, power, stature, and all the privileges and freebies that come with being an incumbent king. He presented himself as a dissident when he ordered the murder of children to safeguard his reign. But God’s cause was unshakable as rock so Jesus lived and grew up.

Sometimes we tend to be like King Herod. We abhor losing control, even if losing our control means passing it to God. We grieve over losing power, even if losing our power is a repercussion of surrendering our lives to God, the One who desires what’s best for us. We worry too much about our grades, about the people we lost or are to lose, about what to set on the dining table tomorrow, how we look, salaries, jobs, dreams, girl/boy to marry etc. if troubling yourself will add a second to your life, then by all means, go worry all your life. But I feel sorry to break it to you, it will not.

King Herod rejected Jesus. The troubled King ordered the search for the baby on the pretext that he would forthwith worship him once found. In truth he plotted to take the life of the baby for the aforementioned reason.

Sometimes we tend to be like King Herod. Seemingly oblivious to the fact that they will stink in the long run, we keep on hiding our skeletons in the closet. We reject God on the pretext that we have to study. We reject God on the pretext that we are tired. We reject God on the pretext that we have a lot of things in hand and we are in pursuit of effective ways to juggle them. Do not get me wrong. Studying, resting and working are important things. To some extent, they are essential. But what’s more important than giving the quality time that your Creator so deserves? Than thanking him for another day than complaining like you’ve been living in hell? Than trusting intently His cause? We can only obtrude our opinions so much on God as if we know better.

And why am I saying these? Because these points boil down to one thing: losing peace. When we are troubled, we lose peace. When we reject God, we lose peace. For once, drop your weapon, sit, cry, or just stay still and silent. Talk to God and ask Him to appease your heart. Ask Him to help you comprehend that when you lose control and power, He takes over. Ask Him to help you see that amidst the procellous sea, your vessel will reach its destination. Ask Him to give you the determination to accept His cause in your life. Ask Him to give you the heart to give God what is due Him at all cost. Ask Him to help you learn to be like the three wise men who acknowledged Jesus and who celebrated rather to be like King Herod who rejected Jesus and who had the choice to revel but decided to be troubled.

It was twice a quarter after eight in the evening. The third night of the Simbang Gabi series was concluded by a distribution of bowls of hot soup. Some were busy handing the bowls. The men engaged in conversations among themselves. The kids chased after their playmates while their mothers tried to tame them. But most of the time, I noticed smiles plastered on those lovely faces. Perhaps they, too, realized what I have been trying to convey.

Not long after the end of the service, it was time to go home. The night was dark; the wind was cold and crisp. It was only tonight when it struck me that it’s getting colder by the day. Next time you wake up, it’s already the most awaited day of the year – CHRISTmas. :}