"Children born near Christmas
are a special blessing from God"

Homily of Fr. Eugene Cañete, MJ on the 23 rd day of December 2004

Fr. Joseph Healey, author of the Fifth Gospel, missionary in Tanzania , Africa writes about twin boys Emmanuel and John.

On December 23 rd, Aurelia gave birth to twin boys. There was great rejoicing in their neighborhood, who would not? The neighbors said that children born near Christmas are a special blessing from God.

On December 24 th, the twins were baptized. The local church custom was to baptize the twins immediately, since many died right after birth. Christians, in most part of Africa , combine baptism with the African traditional custom of the naming ceremony.

In this ethnic group where Fr. Joseph worked, the birth of twins was a sign of bad fortune, but giving the babies names could protect them from the evil spirits. Since it was the day before Christmas, the two boys were given the Christian names of Emmanuel and John.

On December 25 th, the rejoicing and celebration at the twins’ birth continued. Many people came to see the babies and congratulated their parents. Friends and neighbors brought gifts. There was feasting.

Like in the gospel, there goes the close parallel between the birth of John the Baptist and the birth of the twins, John and Emmanuel… rejoiced with her. What Gabriel had promised has come to pass. Now we are seeing the clearest response to God’s merciful action in the face of human impossibility which I one of joy, especially on the part of Elizabeth and Zechariah.

The same is true to the birth of Emmanuel and John. And what better still could we stress in the name Emmanuel other than the very meaning of it, God with us. No wonder, that everybody kept on congratulating the double joy of this particular Christmas in Tanzania . First, it was just within the Christmas season, the birth of Jesus, the Incarnate Word who pitched his tent among us, second, the birth of John the Baptist, and the third, the birth of the twins, Emmanuel and John. In Africa , like in Asia , children are life and hope. Children are the future.

The celebrating continued on December 26 th. Everyone was caught up in the happiness of this season of new life.

On December 27 th, bad news spread in the village. John the twin died. How sad! Knowing how few twins survive the uncertainties of rural Africa , the local people expressed a certain resignation and patient endurance. John the twin was buried in the banana plantation behind his father’s house. And yet, to many of them, John was still a member of the community, as one of the living dead.

In the evening of December 27 th, Emmanuel also died. Everybody was numb. Fr. Joseph blessed the two graves, and silently afterwards, the people walked away downcast, trying to fathom the great mystery of life and death. And yet, in the words of another priest who was asked what color of vestments to wear at a funeral, he said: my head says white, but my heart says purple.

Every Christmas in the Philippines we are experiencing all sorts of celebrations, parties, exchanging gifts, gift-giving, shopping, malling, etc. It is Christmas, so there is enough reason to celebrate. Besides we are in the Philippines , and Filipinos know how to celebrate.

In our feasting, I hope we won’t miss the celebrity, he who is the reason for the celebration, the Incarnate Word. Once again he comes to us, and be among us, affirming the importance of life with his usual preference for the poor.

The recent events of our country and our sense of celebration will probably need some good mixing. After home and community, we might have to journey with Jesus somewhere, to different directions, but, at our choice.

Shall it be to North Cemetery ? Or to the malls as an alternative to home? Or to Quezon Province ? (The children of a prestigious school, where I had mass recently, said with enthusiasm and conviction- we prefer to go to Quezon!)