As we journey through life, we need symbols that will inspire us. We need such symbols especially in times of crisis. Father Burgos, Gomez and Zamora were such symbols for Rizal. Churchill was also a symbol for wartime England. Ninoy Aquino served as a powerful symbol for all who were oppressed by the Marcos regime. And, of course, Jesus Christ is the great and unequalled symbol for all Christians.

For our post-September 11, 2001, world, I, personally, have a symbol who lifts me up. I want to share him with you. His name is Jomari Fajardo, a five-year old boy. I met him in one of my suppers with the poor, in the convento of San Antonio parish, Tonsuya, Malabon. Fr. Raul Salgado, the parish priest, was our host for the supper where three poor families of the parish were invited. Among the guests was a woman who brought her four children. Her husband could not come because he had to go to work.

One of her children, Jomari, easily caught my attention because he was lying on a baby carriage. His thigh and legs were in cast, and both his legs were joined at the knees by a piece of wood which made his legs look like a slingshot. I asked his mother what happened to him, and she told me his story.

The baby carriage, which belonged to a younger sibling, had fallen on Jomari and broke his thigh and leg bones. He needed to be operated on. But there was a big obstacle to the operation: Jomari had a heart problem, and he could not be given general anesthesia. The kind doctors of the National Orthopedic Hospital told the mother to ask Jomari whether he could bear the pain. And he answered, “Opo, Nanay, basta huwag ka lang lalayo. At sabihin mo sa mga doctor na mag-iingat sila” [“Yes, mother, just don’t go away, and tell the doctors to be careful”]

He survived the operation!

I learned from the mother that they were squatting near a bridge and they have been given final choice of demolition. A parish worker volunteered to me that all they had was a small hut. Since they would have to bring Jomari to the hospital once in a while, I thought it necessary for them to move to a nearby place. We were eventually able to buy another privately owned hut for them, measuring no more than 3x3 meters, at the cost of P12,000.

Less than three weeks after our supper in Father Salgado’s rectory, Jomari came to visit me in my home in Caloocan. Jomari was already walking! He showed off how he could walk, even though there was still a detectable limp. There was pride and joy in his eyes. His mother was very profuse in her gratitude not only because of his recovery, bit also because they had now a better home! (“Mas maganda na po ngayon ang aming bahay.”) I was so happy with these developments that I promised to supply Jomari with milk to make him healthier.

On Tuesday I met Father Salgado. He told me about Jomari and his continuing improvement and growth. He added that the whole family now comes to Mass.

Jomari for me is a symbol not only of Filipinos in a moment of crisis, but also of our wounded humanity which longs not only for healing but for the nearness of someone who loves us. God, who loves us, and knows the longings of our hearts, did not wait for us to say to Him, “Huwag kang lalayo” [Just do not go away]. On his own, God has drawn near to us in his Son, who is named Emmanuel, “God with us.” The one who has become flesh and blood and dwelt among us (Jn 1:14), is no less than God’s only begotten Son.

Christmas reminds us that the Son of God has come to our side, so that there is no way we could lose the battle for fullness of life anymore, unless we ourselves decide to throw away our lives. With God at our side, we will walk tall again like Jomari, as God wants us to.

¶ 5:30 am