Think of your brethren

(Editor’s note: This is an excerpt of the homily of the Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao and CBCP President, during his Mass on the Feast of the Santo Nino of Prague in Santo Nino Shrine, Shrine Hills, Matina, Davao City on January 15, 2020. He could have missed this fiesta had there been no cancellation of flights to Luzon due to the eruption of Taal volcano.)

I would like us in this Mass today in our prayer to remember the many childlike suffering people. They are almost helpless in the area of Cavite and in Batangas, near Taal. Let us keep them in our prayers.

I think the Santo Nino would be very sad if we only think of ourselves today, mga miracles nga atong giampo. I think better we pray for miracles for them. Dili kaayo maayong Katoliko nga we only bring here our agenda. Ang test sa usa ka maayong Katoliko, tan-awa inyong listahan sa pag-ampo diri, inyo ra bang circle? Kana bang walay labot, wa gyuy labot? Kamaot ana! Pero ang test sa buotan nga anak sa Dios… (whisper) Ayaw gyud ko ingna, ‘laina ni Bishop oy, makalain man.’ Hinaot unta nga as we come close to the Child Jesus, we get his mind. We get the mind of Jesus. So always think of your brothers and sisters. Not only yourself, inner circle. But think of others.

Today, for one, think of our suffering brothers and sisters in Batangas and in Lipa. Think of babies, mga ninos and ninas there suffering in evacuation centers. So let us include them in our prayers.

Now, today again, I am thankful that we are all here. You are all here, teaching me, telling me and our priests how strong is our faith. Once again, I see, we see the faith of the Filipino people in this beautiful devotion to the child Jesus. No doubt about that.