God always calls out to us

(An excerpt of the homily of the Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., during the Send Off Mass of the DaDiTaMa Youth Convention at Queen of Apostles College Seminary Chapel, June 9, 2024.)

Why must we be hopeful, always joyful. In the lakbay, in the journey. Journeying together. Spirit of hope. But why joyful? In the first reading, sa unang pagbasa si Adan ug si Eva minglihis sa ilang journey, ilang kinabuhi. Early on sayo pa gane medyo nag daot ilang puntaryo ang panaw nila sa Diosnon na kinabuhi. They sinned, nakasala sila. But what is striking my dear friends mga batan-on, sa dihang sa bago palang sa ilang journey, bago palang na journey, bago na lakbay, bago na panaw. With hope unta confident sila sa Lord nakasala sila. What is striking is, ang Ginoo maoy nangita nila. Niingon ang Ginoo “asa man kamo?”. Gipangita si Adan ug si Eva. God called out to Adam and Eve. Wala maghulat ang Ginoo na magpait si Adan ug si Eve. Wala maghulat ang Ginoo na mangita si Adan ug si Eva. Siya’y nangita kang Adan ug Eva. So therefore, my dear mga batan-on, in our lakbay in our journey to hope in the Lord to be joyful is to be confident that from time to time, it is the Lord who calls us. It is the Lord presenting himself to us. Di siya muhulat nga kita mo piyait, musinggit, muhilak. It is always God who moves first. That’s why very surprising ang drama unta sa first reading ug ako pa ang nagsulat sa Bibliya muana ko na “Wala Ginoo mga baga nawong hulaton nato ni magkamang-kamang ni karon. Mutawag man gyud ni ron. Bantay mutawag na”. Wala. Iyang creatures, iyang creations wa nagkadimao. Wala nagtuman sa iyang divine direction. Gipangita sa Ginoo si Adan ug si Eva. Mga batan-on in our journey, in your journey, many times perhaps you feel abandoned, confused. Do not forget it is always a joyful journey in hope because God is always watching over us. And not only passively watching, he will call out to us. Make his presence felt by us.