Posted by The WORD in other words (2023) by Fr Arlo Yap SVD – ECBA, Catholic Trade Manila
3rd Sunday of Advent – B
“Kung gusto mong maging masaya, diretso lang. Walang liko-liko!” (If you want to be happy, straighten your ways. No more twists, no more turns). That was what I heard from a parent, advising his young son to concentrate on his studies and finish college. Because, in reality, a lot of brokenness and pain is the result of choosing many twists and turns instead of focusing on one’s goal.
It is the same thing in finding Jesus. We make our ways straight for Jesus, and he will come straight to us. When John said: “Make straight the way of the Lord,” it means that we have to make straight our way for the Lord to come straight to us. Thus, making our way straight for the Lord’s coming means focusing on Jesus and his birth, especially this Christmas season.
Practicality, this teaching of St. John is also expressed in our academic subject called Geometry. When I was a third-year high school student in 1973, I learned that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. Thus, the shortest distance between Jesus and me is a straight way of life, no twists, no turns.
However, if I failed, made wrong turns, and made wrong decisions, I have to go back where my straight line is and mend my twisted ways. This is what St. Paul, in the second reading, is telling me: “Retain what is good. Refrain from any kind of evil.” And if I do the advice of St. Paul, then I can declare before the world that “I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul.” Here is my testimony.
A day before my birthday in 2021, together with a close friend, we went to a small Japanese restaurant in a mall. We ordered our favorite beef yakiniku, chicken teriyaki, and kakiage. While enjoying our lunch, I saw a small paper sticker on my plate of kakiage that fell maybe from an ingredient pack. I stood up and brought my plate to the cashier, who was serving some customers. I remember that very moment what Jesus said: “If your brother sins, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone” (Matthew 18:15). Then I saw a young man also in uniform standing behind the cashier. I called his attention in private, and showed him the sticker on my plate. Then I went back to my seat.
After five minutes, he followed me and said that he was the store manager. He appreciated what I told him in private and not in public before the customers. He gave me another plate of kakiage for free and another free meal when I come back. Wow! The word of Jesus really made my day. Jesus came to me because I made my way straight to him. Afterwards, with great rejoicing in my heart, the advice of St. Paul comes to me meaningfully: “In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”
In conclusion, my response is: “My soul rejoices in my God” because I will always make my way straight and prepare myself for the birthday of Jesus.
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