Know, That You Are Holy

(Excerpt from Abp. Romulo Valles’ homily during the Perpetual Profession of Vows of Sr. Michelle May Seng Caligner, PM and Sr. April Margarette Anung Hiquial, PM at Presentation of Mary Chapel, Cat. Grande, Davao City)

Last two items coming from the Liturgy of the Word, we go to the Gospel reading today, very short…”Jesus said to His disciples do not give what is Holy to dogs or throw your pearls before swine, least they trample them under foot and tear you to pieces”, today my dear friends we need all the grace, we need all the help to know really that we are pearls, that we are holy, otherwise when we do not or are not sure of that character, then no problem throwing ourselves to the dogs. If di nato magets unsa ta ka holy, unsa kita in the eyes of God, pearl, a great prize, then you can just throw yourself to any endeavor in the world. But we know, I hope we know still that people in convents, religious brothers and sisters, amongst us, in their own weakness… in many ways, know that you are holy, know you are precious image, know that in the Lord you are pearl of great prize, you are not destined for dogs, you are not destined for swine.

We hope that our anchor is to know that we are holy, not above other else, not proud, but we are destined not for dogs, not for swine, we are destined for truly enduring and heart-warming witness in the world today.

Matthew 7:13 “Enter through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide, and the road broad that leads to destruction and those who enter through it are many, how narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life.” (note heaven, life, true life) We try on humble witnessing that that is the road, rough, difficult; narrow not the highway to destruction as the gospel would tell us. So today, we continue this rite full of confidence not because of ourselves, not of the strengths that we have no doubt, but simply in faith we say we continue to live this challenge in the world today, because of Jesus, because of our blessed mother, because of holy saints who will accompany us as we continue in our perpetual vows as baptized children.