Blaming others has been as old as when man first disobeyed God. Check the first few chapters of Genesis when God discovered that Adam ate of the forbidden fruit. What did Adam do? He pointed his fingers at Eve who, in turn passed the buck to the serpent!
Pointing fingers takes its roots from being irresponsible. Our first parents didn’t want to take the blame for their own faults. It is not surprising that their first-born Cain once retorted “Am I my brother’s keeper?” when God asked him where his brother Abel was.
From then on, we have witnessed people washing hands (Pontius Pilate wasn’t the first one!), avoiding any involvement on any issue. The recent hostage taking in Manila is a classic example. The rather arrogant and appalling behaviour of Sen. Panfilo Lacson who is still at large and won’t turn himself up to the authorities is another.
Personally, there have been moments when I ran from my responsibilities. I remember hiding behind my Manong Cocoy when an angry group of kids wanted a redress for a mistake I did. My older (and smaller at that time) cousin took the blows for my own irresponsibility (Bless him!).
Through sin, our ability to respond, to take things upon ourselves, to own the problem staring us in the face has been blighted.
Yet one woman – a daughter of Eve – was spared from this defect. Through her immaculate conception, Mary was excluded from our sorry state. Hence, the angel addressed her during the Annunciation as “full of grace”. By being free from sin, Mary accepted generously what God invites her to be. By living in the state of (abundant) grace, she said her “Fiat” without any reservation. Had she refused, had she begged off the Christmas story would never be complete! The Christmas that we’re due to celebrate soon would be a “Failure to Launch”.
We may have avoided responsibilities in many instances. Perhaps pointed fingers at others. For some, blame culture has been in vogue. Yet the Solemnity of Our Lady’s Immaculate Conception calls us to be like Mary, to live like Mary, to act like Mary. We may not have been as blessed like her, but if we strive to be more responsible, to remove the speck in our eyes before that of others, to recognize that we are indeed our brothers' keeper, to live each day as a steward of the earth then we can be sure that our hearts and homes would be ready to welcome Christ, the reason for our Christmas season.
Birthday greetings to my sister Ma Gisela (7th December; her 33rd) and my father Mario (8th December; his 60th)!
Best wishes to Fr Edwin Bravo who's celebrating his 17th sacerdotal ordination anniversary (7th December) and to Ninang Joji and Tito Paul Pablo who are celebrating their 27th wedding anniversary (8th December)!
God bless you all through the Virgin Mary's intercession!
