On the 35th Dedication of San Pedro Cathedral

(June 28, 2015)

“Please come, lay your hands on her that she may live…If I touch his cloak, I shall be cured and she was healed of afflictions.” – Gospel of Mark 5:21-43

Excerpts from the Homily

“We are recalling in that event that this Cathedral was blessed through the lighting of the 12 candles 35 years ago.” Here is an excerpt of the ancient prayer which was prayed before.

“Lord, send your spirit from heaven to make this Church an ever holy place and this altar a ready table for the holy sacrifice of praise. Overwhelm the shame of sin. May your people die to sin and lift again through praise as your children.”

It is not about the marble, and the nice church, it’s about people. The 12 candles remind us of the 12 apostles — the circle of first believers of the Lord. Christ is the keystone; the apostles were the foundation stones.

The readings tell us of three beautiful reminders as we make St. Peter our model:

1. Declaration/statement of fact
   In the Book of Wisdom, it says that God did not make death. There are many sad news on TV these days. But each person is basically good; the original beating of our hearts; the original cycles of our minds; we are the reflections of the image and likeness of God; we are good!
2. Challenge/a task to be done
   If we are good, unsaon nato pagpakita sa statement of fact. It comes from the 2nd reading…St Paul, says: As you excel in every respect, faith, knowledge…may you excel in being gracious to others. If we are good, the challenge is let that goodness show in your graciousness to others as a matter of equality.
3. Assurance as a word of comfort and guarantee
   Even if we are made in the image and likeness of God, muabot ang higayon, we will be tested. The woman hesitated if Jesus will notice her; Jairus also, but in the end of these complicated stories, both the child and the woman were healed. In life, there can be desperations. We think that Jesus is late or He will not mind us like Jairus. But no. Let us be renewed in our faith that the Lord will always be there for us.