‘Stand up, live normal lives’

Excerpt of the Homily
Roxas Avenue Blast Site
September 3, 2016, 4:00 pm

But in faith we offer ourselves to the Lord. We pray this afternoon for those who have died, who are killed, for the eternal repose, we pray for the suffering families of those who died and also for those who are still struggling in the hospital.

We pray for our city government, of our leaders, the many agencies of our city government, the military, the police. They are exerting so much effort to help us, to help the city to return to normal life.

I am told that even this evening or soon the activity in this area would resume into normalcy. And I told mayor that it is a wonderful move, so that we can tell ourselves, “though we are afraid, we are pained, we will continue to stand up, and live normal lives, with the blessing of the Lord.

In this Eucharist, we come together, we come to the table of the Lord, in joy and in sorrow because in this Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in this table of the Eucharist.

Jesus, the Son of God assures us of His ever abiding presence; that He will not abandon us. It is difficult to see the loving and powerful presence of the Lord. This mass assures us that the Lord is there for us, assuring us of His presence, of His Grace, of His comfort.

Even if it still very painful but this mass is assuring us that Jesus has conquered death. In the eyes of the world, and the eyes of many of us, we have seen fourteen (14) lives, lost last night. But in the hands of the Lord, at the end and the bottom line, we know also that in the Lord, there is eternal life. And it is by this praying together, wonderful activity that we are doing right now. A very important one, that we stay strong together, as a people of God in the city of Davao, we stay strong as a community of Dabawenyos, loving and caring for each other.

Yes, there has been a painful experience last night and continuing to be this day and a few days from now. But, also I believe that with God’s Grace, with God’s Love, with God’s Care, with God’s presence, our lives will be normal before we realized it. God is so good and it is the assurance of this Holy Mass that we are celebrating this afternoon.