Posted by The WORD in other words (2019) by Fr Francisco Estepa SVD – Holy Name University, Tagbilaran City
January 4 – Before Epiphany
Three friends happened to see each other after a long time. Being intimate in their high school days, they shared their secrets and they agreed that their sharing would only be among themselves and not to be shared to others.
Friend One said that he had an illegitimate child that his wife did not know of. Friend Two said that he had a lover with the same gender as him. Friend Three said that his weakness was that he was a gossiper. He could not control himself and needed to share people‘s secret to others. How sad for Friends One and Two.
They say that the favorite pastime of some people is “trismology” (gossiping). The usual favorite topic is other people. And the usual subject matter is what is bad in them. Gossipers exaggerate stories or invent one to bring others down or highlight their negative points.
But the Gospel for today shows another way of talking about people — pointing out what is good in them. John the Baptist pointed Jesus to his two disciples as the “Lamb of God”. Andrew referred to Jesus as the Messiah.
During this Christmas season the Incarnate Word showed how God loves humanity that He himself became one like us. He showed to us how important we are to Him telling us that we are lovable and valuable. May we, too, imbibe this important message of Christmas that we see the goodness in others in spite of their weaknesses and limitations.
