The Light to the World

(Excerpt from the homily of Abp. Romulo G. Valles on the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord and World Day of Consecrated Life, February 2, 2019 @ San Pedro Cathedral)

In 1997, the Holy Father that time, John Paul II, who is now a saint, instituted this beautiful customary for the entire church, World’s Day of Consecrated life and Religious life. I was asking, why did he choose February 2, Presentation of the Lord?

Maybe, the whole theology or idea – of religious, those consecrated persons – they present to the Lord themselves in a special way. Maybe that is one of the underpinning thoughts of John Paul II. But maybe also, I like more the idea that religious (persons), but not only exclusive, are called to be special candles to the world, kay Feast of Candelaria (A Light to the nations) man karon.

So my dear brothers and sisters, allow me to develop this thought – maybe presented but I like more the idea of being the living candles, with the religious present in our midst.

My thoughts are not only exclusive to religious but for diocesan priests, those who are in a way also consecrated to the Lord, consecrated for the service of the Lord and His people.

How do we become lights and candles to our people today? How would the religious be, after the sadness and tragedy in Jolo (Sulu)? How would Catholic and religious stand before the people or be in the midst of the people of Jolo?

The Nuncio (during the installation of Bishop Angelito Lampon as the new Archbishop of Cotabato) have a very nice thought and he said that at the core of who we are, ang tatak sa kinabuhing Kristiano ug Katoliko is the capacity and the power to love, no matter what, but the capacity to love, or the capacity to be the light. Dugang niya sa iyang brief address, kung walaon nato ni, kung iwaldas nato ni, kung kalimtan nato ni, we are not Christians anymore. So mangutana ta, we are challenged, how do we become the light to the world?

I would like to see in the readings my dear brothers and sisters, as we thank the Lord for the presence of the religious in the archdiocese of Davao. This is a day of thanking you. Before the mass I was thinking, I cannot imagine the archdiocese of Davao without you, without you manning the schools, some manning the Parishes, special ministries. If I may continue this way, recently we have formalized, murag gi-revive and atong ministry sa anti-human trafficking. Gi-revive nato pag-ayo. That is very important challenge to be aware of the state or situation of our migrant workers also. So I cannot imagine as an archbishop nga mawala ang religious not because murag mga suluguon mahadlok kay manghawa mo but the presence of the religious in Davao, murag mag-pinukaway ta ba. Mupukaw mo sa the rest of us. Especially also mga pari nga dili religious ug mga lay leaders, you have a special way of pukaw, of touching us, of inspiring us. So we thank you again for being here in Davao in this holy sacrifice of the mass.

But again, going back to what I said, how do you, and with you we become, in the presence of lay faithful, become special candles in today’s world, in today’s situation?

First, coming from the first reading (Malachi 3:2):

“But who will endure the day of His coming? Who will endure when we face the Light, Himself? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like the refiner’s fire or like the fullers’ lye. He will sit refining and purifying silver and gold and metal.”

We become excellent lights, candles to God’s people when we allow the Lord to refine our selves; when we allow the Lord to touch us like a refiner’s fire and a fullers’ lye. This is not you, but a challenge and a reminder, we become the light and candles to our people if we allow the Light, Himself, the Lord to touch us and refine us and polish us and purify us.