Walking with Mary is Walking with Jesus’ Cross

(Homily of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao during the Opening Mass of the Archdiocesan Marian Exhibit Year 4 – May 24, 2023 at NCCC Mall VP.)

Kon ang atong debosyon, kutob ra kang Maria, focused to her, bisan siya ma uneasy, di siya moangay nga siya’y ma center, because she is not the center. Naay old Latin saying, “ad Jesum per Mariam”, to Jesus through Mary. Busa deeply, we are blessed, we say, “salamat sa Dios, kay Mary has inspired us, moved us to be gathered and she would like us to be gathered and be brought to Jesus. Through Mary we go, we reach, we embrace, we become near to Jesus.

Let us put in context our chosen day of this Marian Exhibit, we are still in the season of Easter. Although, already in the last days of the season of Easter. That’s why when you hear the prayer today, in the missal we said I said it, “Oh God, who have been pleased to gladden the world, by the resurrection of Your son, our Lord Jesus Christ grant we pray that through the His mother, the Virgin Mary we may receive the joys of everlasting life.”

The gladness comes from Jesus, not from Mary but the church is teaching us but through her, may we receive the joys of everlasting life. I’m very sure that is the heart of the Blessed Mother, she is desiring us to achieve, get hold of the joys of everlasting life. That’s why we have a beautiful theme for this year which says, “Walking together, with the heart of Mary.” Since the beginning of the church that has been our nature, mao na iyang style, mao nay mode of existing, walking together, journeying together. But in a special way, we walk with the heart of Mary.

We must see in this theme, walking together and ask, “asa padulong?” This theme, strongly implies that we are walking towards one direction, dili ni nice walking in the park. It’s walking with the definite direction. Di ni walking-walking nga pag-abot sa usa ka adlaw, malaayan nata. We are reminded today that we are walking towards everlasting joys.

Bisan sa debosyon ni Birhen Maria, it requires extending your arms, inviting people, inspiring people that we walk together with Mary. Look at the ancient prayers of the church, the Creed, the eucharistic prayer. “Ngano maning Katoliko? Always invoking Mary?” One reason my dear friends, because if you look seriously sa kasaysayan sa walking together, very clear sa Church nato nga siya, very important companion. Gani, the first big feast sa Church outside the feast of Christ, feast is January 1.

When we walk with the heart of Mary, ang atong destination padulong sa kingdom, padulong sa Ginoo, padulong sa household of God. That walking maybe difficult, kinahanglan pahibaluon ta daan niana. That walking would require us carrying our own cross. Many of us would us would be discouraged because we think that devotion to Mary is a smiling devotion, kung naa nay cross, muingon sila, “uy di mani mao.” So just be careful and be reminded today to walk with the heart of Mary is walking with the cross of Jesus.