The Pattern of Life

Excerpt of the Homily of Most Rev. Romulo Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao during his 68th Birthday Mass at San Pedro Cathedral, San Pedro Street, Davao City.

When you celebrate your birthday, from the standpoint of humility, you must be humbled that you don’t own your life.

We must always remember that we are just part of the creation of God and we turn to the Lord in thanksgiving and perhaps, ask Him to guide us and show us the way on how He wants us to do with our lives.

I really chose the prayer for relatives and friends because that is what is in my mind as I celebrate my birthday.

Under normal circumstances, we are truly surrounded by our relatives, families, and friends.

We should not fail to see that. In God’s own way, he has given us life and planted us in this community of our families, relatives, and friends.

At least that is my story. My Tatay died when I was a small boy and we are not well-off but there was wealth and richness in just being a family, a clan, a small barrio, a small community. And even then as I move forward in life, truly, grace is there when you are surrounded by friends and relatives.

Even in dark and difficult times, we should be aware of the blessings and grace of the people around us.

In the Old Testament, from the book of Genesis, is a very common story, the story of Joseph.

I suppose if there is anyone of you who have not yet read the story of Joseph, it is not yet too late. You can go through this beautiful story.

It is a story about disregarding life, and making light to life.

What they did to Joseph, the youngest among the siblings, because of jealousy was they sold him to the merchants. He was then brought to Egypt. There was famine there.

The story started with a disregard for life and then famine happened.

That boy who was regarded as nobody because of jealousy and dispense, became their source of life.

Jealousy and hatred almost killed Joseph but in the mind of God, the sentiment of jealousy is not in His pattern.

And even Joseph, instead of hatred and revenge became the heart of God and the source of life.

So, when I think of birthdays, God has always that pattern. And that is the pattern of life.