Catchfire 2018

Excerpt from Archbishop Romulo G. Valles’ homily during the Holy Mass of CATCHFIRE 2018 last August 26 @ RSM Event Center, Philippine Women’s College, Davao City.

Archbishop Romulo Valles expressed his joy that this Catchfire 2018 is being held on a date other than Pentecost as he advised during last year’s Catchfire also at PWC-RSM. The Archbishop is encouraging Charismatic groups to be in the parish during Pentecost.

The opening prayer of this 21st SunԀay – “Oh God who caused the minds of the faithful to unite to a single purpose. Grant your people to love what you command anԀ to Ԁesire what you promise so that amidst the uncertainties of this world our hearts are be fixed on that place where true gladness can be found.” He mentioned that indeed we are amidst uncertainties and he talked about the Papal visit to Ireland, the sex abuse scandal.

Even in the Philippines he said that the CBCP recognizes the mistakes committed by some members of the clergy, thus its recent letter starts with “We bow in shame”. But Ԁespite all the news coming out of many abuses committed even by Church leaders, he encourages us to stay. He quoteԀ: “if your faith is being shaken, would you leave the church because of Judas? Would you leave the church because of sin as if the sin is greater than the mercy and compassion of the Lord?!” Instead we should do what the latest eӽhortation of Pope Francis said (Gaudete et Exultate) Rejoice and be glad!

We are thankful that in the Philippines, many of us like you here are trying to be faithful. Thanks be to God you are here, families are here, while the storm is not yet that strong, we better prepare.

In this Sunday’s First reading, we learned that as the Israelites were journeying, the Amorites’ lifestyle was attractive to some of their members and their faith was shaken! And so Joshua said, “for me and my family we will keep the faith.” More or less in the large world of believers we are Joshua, we keep the faith even if we are small, and there are many of them outside… All of us here, we can say that we keep the faith because we have tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord! Don’t leave it to us priests and bishops, you will tell the world: taste and see the goodness of the Lord! We will not focus on Judas, we will focus on the love and mercy of Christ! Amen! (That’s my first lesson)

2nd lesson: As we listened to the second reading, from the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians, the ending says, “this is a great mystery but I speak in reference to Christ and His Church. Husbands, love your wife as Christ loves His Church. What kind of love is this – that Jesus gave his life to those whom he loves, his body and blood for all of us, including Judas! Because of this love of Jesus – Gaudete et exultate! Taste and see the goodness of the Lord! So do not leave the church! Focus on the love and mercy of God not on Judas!”

3rd lesson: In the gospel today, the disciples said “this is a hard saying who can accept it” and many left. This gospel is brutal. It talks of the bread coming from heaven. At the core of being a Catholic, the best worship that we can do is to be around the table of the Lord. Prayer meeting is good but the center of our faith life is to come to the table, the breaking of the bread. God is so crazy with us that even though how unworthy we are, he is willing to enter into us. Always his love for us is what we receive every time we celebrate the Eucharist. All of us are sinners and weak. But we taste and see the goodness of the Lord every time we celebrate the Holy Eucharist, it is God wanting to enter us.

Why the Eucharist is difficult? If we allow Jesus to dwell in us, we are forced to avoid sin, we are forced to be good. Jesus doesn’t mind staying with us, so that along the way, with all our frailties he will be with us to keep us moving towards the place where true gladness is found.