Be hit by His light

(Homily of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao during the 24th Parochial Fiesta of San Isidro Labrador Parish Catalunan Grande, May 14, 2023.)

Collect – “Grant Almighty God that we may celebrate with heartfelt devotion these days of joy, (season of Easter) which we keep in honor of the risen Lord [the single truth and event that matters really in life, therefore, we don’t fear death anymore] and that what we relive in remembrance, we may always hold to, in what we do.”

Part of the remembrance of the Lord, is the glory of the saints, ang glow sa risen Lord, glows in the life of saints. It’s part of a Catholic faith that we, day in an day out, we live in communion with the saints, that’s part of our remembrance. Si San Isidro, dili bida karong adlawa, ang bida, the risen Lord, Siya ang manunubos, yet kung mu connect ta ni San Isidro we will see it more beautifully.

Pope Francis said, “when you look at our faith, you look at the mystery of the moon, when the moon glows at night, not as shiny as the sun, the moon does not produce its own light, the moon shines only when the moon is hit by the sun. The glow of the moon depends on the glow of the sun.” San Isidro does not glow by himself, San Isidro Labrador does not stand by himself, he is only a saint because he was hit by the grace of God. When we think of San Isidro Labrador, we automatically think, how good God is.

We are amazed at God’s grace that operates even in a lowly person, like San Isidro Labrador; again mystery of the moon, San Isidro does not produce his own light, his own glory, his own miraculous powers, simply San Isidro allowed himself to be hit by the grace of the Lord.