Ghost of
the Christmas Present
(A Fiction)
By Vince Stanley Inigo
I can’t believe what happened yesterday.
A very dear friend of mine visited me after the Misa de Gallo. Well, I have not
introduced “her” personally to my parents yet but I know that the right time
will come that they will be able to meet the girl face-to-face.
The Mass just ended and Fr. Mascardo
asked me to arrange the altar wine and hosts in the Sacristy. I have to keep
those out of reach because some of the sacristans would box one another out and
get some in the cabinets. The parish priest would not see what happens there
but as the sacristan major, I am the one accountable for such incidents.
I was alone in the Sacristy, I heard
someone chuckling from the back door.
At first, the steps also scared me so I
did not have any second thoughts of asking, “Who is it?”
“You’re surprised again?”, she replied.
“Come on! Of course not, Michaela.”
“Just waiting for you. I can’t believe
that it’s almost Christmas. I’m very sorry if I have not prepared any present
for you.”
“Your presence is enough, my lady.”
She held my hand and embraced me saying, “I
missed you so much!”
“Oh no! Not here! We do it outside. This
is a sacred place.”, I kiddingly told her.
“We have grown so fast. I can still
remember our first communion when you were...”
“Alright, continue it later as we walk in
the park. I would love to watch the sunrise with you. Let me undress this tunic
first, I don’t want to get it stained. I’ll be right back.”
“I’ll wait for you here.”
She always mentions about our First
Communion every time we meet. I had memorized the sequence of her story. Every line, every punctuation mark. She would
remind me that I was already staring at her at the line trying to wait for her
eyes to meet mine. We were in Grade 3 that time. It was in San Fernando de
Dilao Parish in Paco, Manila. Msgr. Rolando dela Cruz, our Parish Priest,
presided over the Celebration. I also can’t forget how pale Michaela was that
day but the radiance of her smile illuminated my world. We were paired and it
felt like a wedding as we marched together to receive the Body of Christ.
A jeepney ride would take us to Paco
Park. We are still on vacation. There are no discounts for the student
passengers. So, I had to pay eight pesos (P 8.00) for my ride. As for Michaela,
she got it for free. Why? Apart from Mang Clemente, the jeepney driver, is her
father, Michaela is “invisible”. I was about to pull the coins out of my pocket
but then Mang Clemente recognized me so he insisted that I would have a free
trip to Paco Park. Aside from I was born lucky, it was Divine Providence that I
rode Mang Clemente’s jeepney.
“Libre na! Pamasko ko na sa iyo. (It’s
for free. Take is as a present this Christmas.)”, Mang Clemente told me as he
was looking at the front mirror and giving a smile even if he no longer has his
two front teeth.
“Maraming salamat po! Maligayang Pasko!
(Thank you very much! Merry Christmas!)”
We hopped out of the jeepney when we
stopped at Padre Faura Street and we went to Paco Park. It was a very bright
sunny day to have a walk, eat taho and probably take photos. Michaela was in
great excitement. I wonder why. As if she does not go with me there every time
I’m home for vacation.
I really love conversing with this woman.
Not only that she is full of wisdom but she is someone who is ready to listen
to stories.
The Holy Spirit was inspiring me that day
that I cannot wait to tell someone what I was reflecting on. So, I began to ask
her, “Do you know when was the first time that John the Baptist prepared the
way for the Lord Jesus?”
“I don’t know. When he baptized Jesus,
maybe?”
“That was the concrete example that we
know.”
“Then when?”
“Do you remember that in the Gospel John
leapt for joy in his mother’s womb when he heard Mary coming?”
“Yes? But please tell me the story.”
“That was the first time. John leapt for
joy saying, ‘NANDITO NA SIYA! (Here he comes!)’ He could have been celebrating
so much. You would not expect that John and Jesus are already partying when
they were still at their fetal stage.”
It was an accomplishment when I made her
laugh.
“How did you know?”, she asked.
“From other preachers. They love making
up stories too.”
“Tell me more! Now, I’m listening to a
future preacher.”
“Do you know that Mary is not the only
one who can give birth to Jesus this Christmas?”
“Really? Who else?”, she curiously asked.
“You can! I can!”
“You’re ridiculous!”
“Every one of us who would do a good deed
and would give with love is giving birth to Christ.
Caritas means
charity in Latin. It is also an alternative word for love. Without love, there
is no charity.
The brothers in
the seminary would always tell one another this phrase, ‘Deus caritas est’. In
English, ‘God is love’. If people see us full of love, they can see God in us.
And I hope that I can share to all of you how God loves me.”
“You know, I really have to blame you for
all this. Why do you do this to me?” , Michaela said as if she was really
angry.
“What did I do?”
“I had a deal with my father before. I
told him that no one can make me fall in love before I had my debut on my 18th
birthday.”
“Did you lose?”
“Well, today I’m walking with the person
who made me lose the deal.”
“I’m very sorry.”
I could not believe that she would admit
that same feeling of affection that I had told her when we were still in ... O
my, I guess, I really have not told her about it yet. We were really young back
then. She knows that I am planning to become a priest someday but I also told
her that there are possibilities that God will choose His priests and will have
a better plan for me.
But then she added, “It’s alright. I
thank you that you came to my life. I still need you.”
I blushed when she said that, REALLY!
Then, she continued, “Remember that in
the Book of Genesis, God tore a flesh from the man’s side and created a woman.
And why did He
tear a flesh from the side? Because a man and a woman should walk side-by-side
with the Lord.
Sad to say but
the two of us can no longer be together in this world, my friend. But I assure
you that we will one day meet in Paradise sharing more stories. You will
accomplish a lot of tasks. Good for you, the list of your missions here on
earth still extends like the River Nile.
I always remind
you about our First Communion together. It was a marriage, indeed, not for you
and for me, but our covenant with God. He wants you to continue the Eucharist
not in remembrance of what happened to you and me that day but of Him, who
offered Himself as a helpless infant on the very first Christmas Eve until His
last breath. You may think that you are not worthy but His death made us
realize our worth of His love. I may not have received the Body of Christ when
they rushed me to the hospital when we were in 3rd grade. I was
dying of Leukemia. I just wished for myself that at the hour when the gates of
our Home are opening, I would be able to touch Jesus’s wounds.
I wish that you
would become a great preacher, Vince. Whether you become a priest or not,
proclaim His Word that you may bring the Truth and happiness to the people. Do
not attract people to imitate you only with the words you say but also with the
life you live. I can see that you have grown to be a very gentle man.
Amidst chaos,
there should be peace in the heart. As you always wish for me, that I may rest
in peace.
Remember that
I’m always praying for you. Until next year, Vince. Take care.”
What remained was a memory of hands
caressing my face in the midst of the morning dew. Her words were sweeter than
the caramel in the taho – the ghost of Michaela I see every Christmas.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine
Et lux perpetua luceat eis. Amen.
(Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord
And let your perpetual light shine upon
them. Amen.)
