Many Though We Are, We Are One!

(Bishop Guillermo Afable’s homily during the 25th Diocesan Youth Convention)

A call to be united amidst the differences of each tribe to all the faithful especially to the youth in the diocese of Digos is the starting point of the homily of Bishop Guillermo Afable, Bishop of Digos. This was during the opening mass of the 25th Diocesan Youth Convention last October 26-28, 2018, held at the municipal gymnasium, Malalag, Davao del Sur. Bishop Jimmy centered his reflection on one thing, emphasizing the importance of unity amidst diversity, most especially when talking about the tribes of each delegate i.e., Manobo, Kaulo, Blaan, etc., and their respective places. “Many though we are, different because of our local language, but always remember that we are one. We are one because we have One God, One Lord Jesus Christ, and One Holy Spirit. Even though we are different, we are united because of One God. We are one because of Jesus. You and I become more and more like Jesus and more and more become one.”

Furthermore, he also shared three particular ways to the delegates patterned from the theme “Beloved, Gifted, Shared” and also the understanding that “we are one”. The first way to show that we are one is to respect one another. Bishop said a simple word “please” is a very humane and humble attitude. If Jesus is with you, and Jesus is with me, what would Jesus do? Jesus respects one another. The second one is that after transgressing one person, it’s better to ask sorry, “I am sorry.” If we want to be united again to the one we hurt, we need to ask sorry. Bishop then recalled that some years back during the time when he was teaching in college, he was out patiently bumped the table with his fist because of a particular student who was very annoying and hardheaded. The student cried out. Bishop Jimmy knew that he was wrong. And in the following day, he approached that student and asked sorry with a corresponding red rose. And the last one in order to keep the unity, to be one with one another, the third one that we need to do is not to take each other for granted. Actually Bishop Jimmy said that among the three Beloved, Gifted, Empowered, he is more favored to the second one “Gifted.” Because accordingly, each one who comes in the convention is a gift to each other, not only to his/her companions in the parish but most especially a gift to others who are present in the said event.

Finally, he concluded his homily with an inspiring word saying, “at the end of each day, the three-day convention, you treat each day with a smile on your face, with joy in your heart because you have been a gift to someone, a someone who is also a gift to you, do not take it for granted because we are gifts to one another. So, what do we say when we are given a gift? Say, Thank you!” (Sem. Ariel L. Maglupay | Diocese of Digos)

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