“San Pablo giya sa sinodong Paglawig karong tuig sa Jubileo sa Pilipinas”

(An excerpt from the Homily of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao, January 25, 2022 during the live streamed mass of the 39th Parochial Fiesta Celebration of San Pablo Parish, Juna Subdivision, Matina, Davao City)

Now we have the gospel reading of this feast from St. Mark, Jesus appeared to the eleven. Take note eleven and in the eleven may gipuli later on but dili si Paul. So therefore, if a strict counting at one time nga eleven unya gipulihan tong usa, na twelve sila and then si Paul thirteen kay apostle man siya and no doubt about that.

And like saying in three, why tama diay nuh eleven ra gud ang gisulti and we know that nag-choose sila ug lain mopuli so nabalik na pud ang twelve but yet St. Paul became also an apostle. But to know a little bit the background of why Paul is considered an apostle is very instructive for us today. Jesus appeared to the eleven and said to them “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to everyone”. Sa tradition sa simbahan, you become an apostle if you have seen the Lord. So here Jesus appeared to the eleven meaning they have seen Jesus. And then having known Jesus you hear His command “Go”, ang verb nga “to go” mao nay keyword sa apostoles in Greek, you are sent, you go because the Lord tell you to go. Seeing Jesus and being sent by Jesus to preach the good news that is what happen to Paul. That is why early on in the church he is counted as one of the apostles.

You heard the first reading going to Damascus, on the road bright light appeared, fast forward and then he fell and Paul said who are you, Sir? Be careful with the description light lang and then there’s a voice then nangutana si Saul later known to be Paul, who are you? And he said to me, I am Jesus the Nazorean whom who are persecuting. My companions saw the light but did not hear the voice of the one whose spoke to me, I ask what shall I do?

First question, who are you? Maybe, a good number of us kutob lang sa who are you and we know the answer. But very crucial ang kang Paul nga follow up question, what must I do? Giingnan siya, go up to Damascus and there you will be told about everything appointed for you to do. So here we are that’s why he is qualified as an apostle because he saw Jesus, Jesus appeared to him. And also he was commissioned by the Lord to go and proclaim the good news.

But we are also today called to be apostles, di ba! Naay formal nga terminology, mga apostles but also it is very sound, it is okay that we are also called apostles to imitate St. Paul. And simply that would require of us two key things, first to see Jesus and second to be able like Paul to us. Lord after seeing you now, what do you want of me? What do you want me to do in my life? Magsunod, seeing Jesus and also asking the Lord to guide us on what to do?

You know, this following Jesus is seeing Jesus. Makahinumdum ko sa inyong kanhing kura paroko, akong classmate si then at that time Fr. Jimmy Afable now Bishop Jimmy Afable of Digos. Diha ko nakadungog niya kanang line from the broadway, musical God spell. Day by day Oh dear Lord three things I pray, to see you more clearly – Paul saw the Lord, the apostles saw the Lord. Every day to see you more clearly, to love you more dearly and to follow you more nearly day by day. So we have this example of St. Paul and in the readings of today in the gospel how to be apostle.