Manifest the Spirit’s work in compassion, mercy

Excerpts from the homily of Abp. Romulo G. Valles, D.D. | June 4, 2017

The Catholic Charismatic Community here in Davao celebrated its 50th Golden Jubilee of existence in the world that coincided with the Pentecost Sunday.

For the third time in Davao, the Catchfire 2017 was organized by members of The Holy Trinity Community (HTC) and its outreaches, Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP), Couples for Christ (CFC) and its outreaches, Familia, and for the first time, Bukas Loob Sa Diyos (BLD) Covenant Community at the PWC RSM Event Center, last June 4.

The event started with a healing session at 12 noon and highlighted with a Holy Mass at 1:30 pm. Co-presider and Parish Priest of San Pablo Parish Bishop George B. Rimando read the gospel according to John.

Main celebrant Abp. Romulo G. Valles, D.D. started his homily by explaining the theme for this year, “The Parish as Communion of Communities”. He said that these communities can be in a form of like the covenanted and charismatic communities like the organizers themselves. He told them: “The reference is the parish. We can be a source of life and energy in the parish on this 5th year of the nine-year novena, preparing the entire nation for 2021 when the whole nation will celebrate the 500th year of the beginning of Christianity on what we call now the Philippines.”

“We must celebrate because this is a solemnity, a big celebration of the Church… I am speaking to you as a shepherd in Davao, maybe next year, during Pentecost, we will be there in the Parish. We will be behind the scene asking the fathers what can we do to make the day so beautiful, because you have so much to offer, then held like this (Catchfire) on another day.”

Further, he shared his encounter with Lawrence and Jerome, 2 among the few Catholics in travel to Myanmar. “Catholics in Myanmar are minority but very enthusiastic in faith,” he said. Lawrence and Jerome were raised in an atheist and protestant families, yet they tried to cultivate their faith, which made the Archbishop think, if he is doing the same. “It is the truth of faith that we have, beating of the heart, frame of the mind, the inner dynamism, the inner orientation of who we are that make us to believe in Jesus, to bring us to an attitude and disposition of faith, in entrusting ourselves into the hearts of the Lord, in our blood, our veins and our minds. May kulang ang kinabuhi kung di ko maduol sa Ginoo. Daghan ang nalowbat sa faith.”

He challenged everyone present: “Today that you are here, this day would help us to keep our faith, to nourish our faith, to protect our faith, to love our faith. The description of the people is the Spirit did not come to the individual, but “community.” They were there as a community, a very important indicator that would show your joy is alive, that faith is pang-katilingban, pang-Simbahan. A community is engaged with the bigger church, to be there where we are in the parish. If the Spirit of God is in us, we must be like acting or behaving like that. If God is in us, if the presence of the Holy Spirit is in our hearts, then show in compassion and mercy by going out to others, manifested in the work of compassion.

The Spirit of the Lord will help us set our sights up to our destination, imbued with the Spirit of God. Our dream, our longing is to go to heaven. I am happy that there are young people here. They will continue your mission.