Simbang Gabi 2017: Testifying to the Light

Day two of the 2017 Simbang Gabi novena brought a familiar celebrant–Father Jack O’Hara, who was vicar at the neighborhood parish back in 2005 when I returned to faith. Father Jack’s and my paths have crossed numerous times in the intervening years, most recently at last month’s viewing for his colleague of 13 years and longtime friend, Father Gerry Creedon.

In his homily, Father Jack remarked on the simplicity of John the Baptist’s life. Making the way of the Lord straight involves simplicit...