Mati’s New Bishop (Part 2)

Excerpt from Archbishop Romulo G. Valles’ homily during the Episcopal Ordination of Bishop Abel Apigo last April 24, 2018, 2018 at San Pedro Cathedral.

The Bishop is high Priest surrounded by his priests, the Bishop presides over the Eucharist; the permanent reminder to his people that once upon a time, God’s own Son became one of us and died to save us. It is through that same Eucharist that Bishop and faithful make present again and again, the risen Christ in their midst who continues to forgive us, to enable us to forgive one another. And it is through the same Eucharist, that Bishop and faithful renew mankind’s hope in the resurrection because without that hope there is only surrender to the mounting despair of man’s self-destructiveness.

To be singled out and sent just like Peter and the apostles in the gospel must create in the one who is chosen, a humble heart. For what a tremendous gift that is, it is so great a gift that no one can say that he is worthy of receiving it from God because that gift is so great, so out of this world or as the youth today put it: so cool! A bishop can only strive each day to make himself less and less and worthy of it. That much at least, 21 years of being a Bishop has taught me… One does not become a bishop overnight, it is the grace of episcopal ordination that slowly, gradually makes us bishops in a sense. This is the tremendous gift that envelops our life, pushes us from within and gross us from without to act in imitation of God’s holiness. It is this great gift that makes up for that which will always be lacking in our effort and diligence. It is this great gift that repairs and heals the damage that is done by our sins, big and small that we commit in his service. And this great gift because it so powerful yet so gentle creates a humble heart in each one of us.

No wonder, the Bishop of Rome is more inclined to identify himself, Pope Francis, not so much as Priest or Bishop or Pope but first and foremost as a sinner who has been touched and forgiven by the love of God. In so doing, Pope Francis is now in great company for most of them being St. Peter, the first Pope, and the Patron of this Cathedral and this Archdiocese who is on record as having protested to the one who appointed him: “Depart from me O Lord, for I am a sinful man.” If heaven has habit of choosing and sending less than ideal talent to act as apostles and bishops, it must be because the work of salvation is not really mans but Gods. We merely insert ourselves into his service or more accurately, God allows us to participate in His enterprise. We cannot dictate its progress, forecast its successes or control its reversals. All we know and we are sure of it, is that God has taken full responsibility for saving mankind. And in the conversion of the world or our little corner of it including ourselves will be done but only in God’s own time. But done it will be, for the master of creation is also the Lord of history and His word that we endeavor to preach faithfully and seek to live by will succeed and see fulfilment. Indeed, did He not promised through the mouth of Isaiah the prophet: “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth, it shall not return to me empty but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” That is why, Pope Francis is convinced that there should be greater joy and consolation in announcing the gospel that we share, is that what we share is a message that cannot fail, we are sure that what we share will bring true joy to every human heart and so, the heart of the bishop who is the main herald of that message in his diocese just like Mary’s own heart should be overflowing with joy, the joy of the gospel.