Not for our merits but for God’s design

(An excerpt of the homily of the Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., during the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul and Priestly Ordination of Fr. Abellanosa, Fr. Arado, Fr. Bustamante, Fr. Canico, Fr. Cariaga, Fr. Espinas, Fr. Lugay and Fr. Panganiban at San Pedro Cathedral Parish, June 29, 2024.)

9 of them my dear friends, 8 now but for Davao as we know, what a gift! We didn’t plan it but I knew it was coming because this year Davao is celebrating this grace of being a particular church 75 years ago, what a gift that we have this morning. But it is understandable that somehow the focus is on them but the gathering today is not a concert like Taylor Swift; it is different. And when we began the song especially, I was touched by the usual words of the Gloria it’s not about them, not about us. But when we sang, it is not about us “Glory to God in the Highest”. The psalm, the beautiful psalm it’s about the goodness of God, it is God’s grace. That grace that is always mysterious.

Mystery na kanang dili nato masabtan, but mystery na dili mahutdan. You go back to that mystery and always it is life-giving, always news, always touching us like today. The 8 of you, I would like to repeat, “Who are we?” Love and mercy will always reach out to us before we can even have a step to come to Him. God wants his presence to be felt by us, that presence will be salvific, comforting, giving hope in this difficult world. For all of us the initial grace is when we were given the chance to be baptized, the grace of baptism. So that mystery is for all of us God’s people. Even Pope Francis would say, even beyond the borders of the church, overflowing grace.

And from among these people baptized in His own design He would choose frail, sinful men to represent again His Son Jesus. Naay itom, gamay, puti, musician, professional, nasakit, He would choose from among us. My dear friends if you examine, dili mi kapasar, klaro kaayo na, read my lips dili mi kapasar. And yet here we are today not because of our own merits or the merits of the eight or them or nine but simply God desiring, willing to make his presence felt among us and priests among us according to the 2nd Vatican Council: “will act, will behave, will live among us in the person of Christ.” Agere in Persona Christi again not for our merits but for God’s design. So, the eight of you the challenge is Agere and no other definition, boundaries, Agere in Persona Christi. That’s why the same grace given to you be nurtured partly by you, atong paningkamot but the giver of the gift, the mystery will accompany you always not only today.

The beautiful moment that you would show that mission to remind people, a reminder to keep that memory alive in the Eucharist. You with the people seeing you I hope I would see a glimpse of Christ. Push them, inspire them to be priestly, to be prayerful. It will inspire them our people to be able to articulate their faith, to remind them of their prophetic character. And lastly, as we celebrate this Eucharist to remind them not only to eat the Body and Blood of Christ but also to be also shepherds to feed people, be there for people. In a wonderful way, mysterious ways, you will be in our midst. Agere in Persona Christi.