Simplicity

(Excerpt of the Homily of Most Rev. Romulo Valles, D.D. during the San Isidro Labrador Lumondao fiesta celebration.)

What does San Isidro Labrador bring as our patron? What do we get from the inspiration he serves? This is a cliché but San Isidro Labrador always reminds us of a very wonderful value of life which is simplicity.

Simple lifestyle — our Pope has reiterated this for so many times.

But, who does not get tempted? We get things from here and there. We buy five pairs of jeans when we need only two. Even in poverty, we get tempted.

In the evacuation centers, those who distribute goods always prepare because people will flock. Why? They get a lot of goods more than what they can. They have seemingly become greedy because they have lost trust that they will be provided with their needs.

We accumulate because we have no idea of what will tomorrow serve us.

But, San Isidro Labrador, our beloved patron, always reminds and encourages us, to keep a simple lifestyle along with a profound faith and love in God.

According to Pope Francis, in his Laudato Si, small is beautiful, less is beautiful.

In contrast will accumulation, less is beautiful.

This is what our beloved patron reminds us — the challenge of living in simplicity.

The poverty we are talking about does not translate to the one with a merciful situation. Rather, poverty translates to a simple living.

I remember one description of a family that clearly contrasts simplicity. It said that with the money the said family has, they can die and be back on earth a hundred times, but still, they will not suffer financially.

But we don’t live more than once.

Because after the simple life here in the world, we will proceed to the life that God has prepared for us, just like San Isidro Labrador.

Another point is that like San Isidro Labrador, we must hold on to faith as we are the sons and daughters of God.

The Gospel says, “I am the Light.” The faith in Christ is what brings light in our life and we will be enlightened with our closeness to Jesus.

In the prayer that we offer to San Isidro Labrador, we must nurture the grace around us, the gift of nature.

Brothers and sisters, this is not new, but this is one of the biggest reality we are facing today — how do we take care of the gift of land, water, forest, air, and the nature as a whole?

Our beloved patron knows this is a lot because he is a farmer. He is familiar with farming, food, soil, water, and the nature.