Hope Awakens in Advent – Marist Sisters

I was in prison and you came to visit me. Matthew 25: 36

On the first day of Misa de Gallo, Srs Sheila and April were blessed to accompany Rev. Fr. Gil Casio, sm, as he celebrated Mass with the Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDLs) at Maa City Jail. Fr. Gil shared in a Facebook post his gratitude to Srs. Sheila and April, “whose prayerful presence brought strength and hope to our PDL brothers behind bars.”

Misa de Gallo (literally “Rooster Mass”) is the traditional Filipino dawn Mass celebrated in the nine days leading up to Christmas. Though this Mass could not be celebrated at dawn because of prison regulations, its spirit of hope and new beginnings was deeply present among those present.

That detail itself became an important part of the reflection Fr Gil shared during the Mass.

Roosters don’t only crow at dawn

“We often think that a rooster must crow only at the break of day. Yet life gently teaches us something deeper: some roosters crow in the daytime. Some awakenings come later—not because hearts are stubborn, but because they have been wounded, confused, or worn down by loss.

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of two sons. One said “No” at first, but later repented and went. The other said “Yes,” but did not act. Inside the jail, this Gospel sounded different—more honest, more human—because many PDLs know what it means to have said “No” in the past, and what courage it takes to say “Yes” today.

This is the Advent invitation we carried with us: A past “No” is not a final answer.
What matters is not perfect words, but the grace to turn back—even if it feels late, even if it feels like it is already “daytime.”