The Heart and Mind of Mercy

(Homily of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao during the 8th Parochial Fiesta of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, La Verna Hills, September 17, 2023.)

Why is it nga ang church has declared nga dili itugot ang death penalty? Dili pwede. Mangutana ta, why is it the church has also declared, it is almost impossible to say, this is a reasonable war, war with reason, just war? Lisud kaayo ang simbahan mukamada nga kini just, may rason nga gyera.

St. Francis of Assisi, very well admired saint, yet he abandoned all the trappings of strength and power and he became literally very poor but yet so strong sa iyang kasing-kasing, yet he would be at peace, engaging people, reconciling, so confident. Niining kalibotana si St. Francis of Assisi below zero but yet what made him quite a firm and powerful person to bring good to the world?

Why in the world today ang simbahan beginning to be powerless? Why would the church continue to be there proclaiming kataw-anan nga kaayohan, impractical nga mga advocacies, like dili gyud mutugot ug abortion? Why all these?

I think the answer is in the Gospel for today’s fiesta, kon mutoo kita sa Dios, kung devotee kit ani St. Francis, sa tinuod nga paagi, we enter, we connect into that powerful forgiveness and mercy of the Lord. Ibang level ang pagkamaayo ang pagkabootan, nga bisan iatubang nimo sa mangil-ad, that coolness, that soothing, that comfort of forgiveness and mercy can overcome misery, death, war, any kind of suffering because makabaton kita sa kasing-kasing sa Ginoo. In what particular kasing-kasing sa Ginoo, atong mabati? Matod pa ni Pope Francis and Benedict, the name of God is mercy, almost saying the name of God is forgiveness.

Therefore, kung atong tinuod-on kining pistaha karon, ang mensahe, will set us apart, dili sa kahambog o ka superior but simply, the kasing-kasing, mindset, style sa usa ka Katoliko Kristyanos, lahi niining kalibotana, kataw-anan niining kalibotana, but yet upto today, kining atong pagpyesta, pagsimba karon, I hope, we really pray and hope, we will acquire that mind and heart of mercy.