Ang pangalawang hapis ni San Jose ay iyong makita ang bagong silang na sanggol na dukhang-dukha, ulila sa sabsaban. (The second sorrow of Saint Joseph was to look upon the newborn infant, impoverished, alone in the manger.) To see a loved-one suffer brings us great sufferings.
Kalungkutan, hapis ni San Jose na tingnan na ang bagong silang na sanggol na ipinagkatiwala sa kanya para alagaan, ay naroroon sa sabsaban. (It was the great sorrow of Saint Joseph to look upon the newborn infant who was entrusted to his care, laid in the manger.) Walang malambot na kama. (No soft bed.) Walang magandang silid kundi sabsaban. (No well-appointed room but a mere manger.) At ayon sa Ebanghelyo, ang bagong silang na sanggol ay binalot ng hindi pangkaraniwang damit. (According to the Gospel, the newborn child was wrapped not in ordinary clothes.) Ang ginamit na salita ay “swaddling clothes”. (The words used were “swaddling clothes”.) Ang swaddling clothes ay hindi ginagamit para sa tao. (Swaddling clothes are not meant for humans.) Ang swaddling clothes ay ginagamit sa mga bagong panganak na tupa. (Swaddling clothes are used for newly born sheep.) Walang bahid. (No streak.) Walang sugat. (No scar.) Walang mantsa. (No stain.) Babalutin siya upang ihanda para ihandog sa templo sa tamang panahon. (It will be wrapped and ready to be offered in the temple in due time.) Swaddling clothes – pambalot sa tupa na i-aalay. (Swaddling clothes – wrapping for sheep to be offered.) At ang ipinangbalot sa bagong silang na sanggol ay hindi lampin para sa sanggol kundi lampin para sa tupa (What was used to wrap the newborn child in was not cloth meant for infants but for sheep) na ang tadhana ay i-alay sa templo para sa kapatawaran ng lahat ng kasalanan (it’s destiny is to be offered for forgiveness of sin.) Ibig sabihin po, sa simula’t simula pa maliwanag na na ang isinilang na sanggol ay may tungkulin, may misyon (This means that from the very beginning, it was made clear that the child was born with a responsibility, a mission) na i-alay ang sarili para sa kapatawaran ng kasalanan ng mundo (that is to offer himself for the forgiveness of sin in the world.)
Tinitingnan natin ang sanggol at pwede nating ibulalas – batang-bata pa pero kita na kung papaano siya mamatay. (Looking at the infant child and we can declare this – so young yet it is evident how he will die.) Mamatay siyang parang tupa. (He will die like sheep.) Sasaksakin. (Stabbed.) Kakatayin. (Butchered.) At ang dugo ay isasaboy para luminis tayo sa kasalanan. (And the blood shall be strewn all over to cleanse us from our sins.) Sa unang sandali pa lamang naroon na ang tanda. (From the very start, the sign was there.) At ito’y hapis ni San Jose sapagkat ito ay tanda na ang kanyang aalagaan ay papatayin balang araw. (And how deep the sorrow of Saint Joseph is knowing that this child entrusted to his care shall be killed someday.) Ang kanyang aalagaan ay magiging Kordero ng Diyos na mag-aalis ng kasalanan ng sanlibutan. (He shall be taking care of the Lamb of God who will take away the sins of the world.)
Ang hapis na ito ay nadagdagan pa sapagkat nasa sabsaban. (His sorrow deepened because the infant laid in a manger.) Hindi sa kama. (Not in a bed.) Hindi sa duyan. (Not in a hammock.) Hindi sa kuna kundi sabsaban, kainan ng hayop. (Not in a crib, but in a manger wherein animals eat.) At nagsasalita ang sabsaban sa atin. (The manger speaks to us.) Lakasan mo ang iyong loob sapagkat dadalhin mo ang mananakop sa iyong sarili. (Have courage because you will carry the Savior within you.) The manger speaks to us, all of us. Be strong. Be strong enough to carry the Lord. Be strong enough to face opposition. Be strong enough because you are going to carry God almighty. Pero kahit tayo ay malakas. (Because even though we are strong.) Kahit tayo ay matibay. (Even if we are durable.) Huwag nating kakalimutan na sa loob ng sabsaban ay malambot na dayami ang ating naaalala. (Let us not forget that inside the manger, you will find soft grass.) Be strong. (Maging malakas.) Be sturdy but be soft inside. (Maging matibay ngunit may lambot sa loob.) Ibig sabihin, huwag kang matakot na maging maawain, mapagmalasakit. (This means, be not afraid to act with mercy, with genuine care.) Huwag kang matakot maging mapagbigay, mapagpatawad, mapagmahal. (Do not fear being giving, forgiving and loving.) Sapagkat ang tunay na mapagpatawad ay siyang tunay na malakas at makapangyarihan. (Because being forgiving is the true sense of strength and power.)
Third – “Be empty”. Walang laman. (Empty.) Sapagkat kung may laman ang sabsaban, hindi na siya magagamit. (Because if the manger is filled then it cannot be used.) Anong laman mo sa iyong puso? (What fills your heart?) Anong nilalaman ng iyong isip? (What fills your mind?) Anong nilalaman ng iyong pagkatao? (What makes up your humanity?) Anong laman ng iyong mga pangarap? (What fills your dreams?) Anong laman ng iyong isip kapag ika’y nag-iisa? (What fills your mind when you are alone?) Be empty. Be empty for the Lord. And let the Lord be the only one who can fill up that emptiness.
At sa huli, sabi ng boy scout – Laging handa. In the end, as the boy scout always says – Be ready. Be ready because the Lord will invite you to become his manger anytime. The Lord will invite you to be like St. Christopher, Cristobal, Christ-bearer anytime. Do not say – It’s not on schedule. Do not say – Hindi pa ako handa. (I am not yet ready.) Do not say – Bata pa ako. (I am too young still.) Do not say – Hindi pa ako nakapag-aral. ( I have yet to finish my schooling.) Rather say – Lord, if it is You, even if I am not ready, let me carry You because only You can make me ready.
Ang pangalawang hapis ni San Jose ay nagbibigay sa atin ng paala-ala na ang tadhana nating lahat (The second sorrow of Saint Joseph is a good reminder that we are all destined) ay ialay ang buhay katulad ng kordero para sa kapatawaran ng mundo (to offer our life just as the Lamb of God did for the forgiveness of sins of the world.)
Ikaw ay kordero. Ikaw ay sabsaban. (You are the Lamb. You are the manger.) Aalagaan ka ni San Jose. Saint Joseph will take care of you.) Bayaan mong alagaan ka niya upang katulad ni Hesus (Allow him to take care of you as he did Jesus), lumaki tayong handa na maghandog ng buhay para sa kapatawaran ng kasalanan ng mundo (to grow and become ready to offer our life for the forgiveness of sins of the world.)
San Jose, sa hapis habang tinitingnan ang sabsaban, at ang karukhaan ng bagong silang na sanggol, (Saint Joseph, in your sorrow as you look upon the manger, at the poverty of the newborn infant) samahan po ninyo kami upang kahit kami’y parang sanggol pa lamang (stay on our side so that even as an infant) ay maging handa kaming maghandog ng buhay para sa kapwa (we may be ready to offer our lives to others).
Because it is only living for others that we can truly live for God. Iyuko natin ang ating ulo at sabihin natin kay San Jose – San Jose, tulungan niyo po akong maging handa. (Let us bow our heads and ask Saint Joseph – Saint Joseph, help us to become ready). Huwag sana akong maghintay na maging handa sapagkat baka hindi na mangyari iyon. (May I not wait any longer to become ready because it may not come to pass.) Inihanda po ninyo ang inyong sarili para kay Hesus. (You made Yourself ready for Jesus.) Ihanda ko sana ang aking sarili (May I come ready and prepared), upang maging katulad ni Hesus (to be like Jesus), upang maging sabsaban para kay Hesus (to be a manger for Jesus). Amen.
