In our frailty, He strengthens us

(Excerpt from Abp. Romulo Valles’ homily during the Holy Mass for the 174th Parochial Fiesta Celebration of San Pedro Cathedral, San Pedro St., Davao City)

Oh God, who on this solemnity of the apostles, Peter and Paul give us the noble and holy joy of this day. Grant we pray that your church, (your people of Davao celebrating the fiesta of the cathedral) may in all things follow the teaching of those through whom she received from the beginning of right religion. That’s one challenge, assignment to follow all not some teachings received from the Lord.

Ang first lesson karon sa piesta ni San Pedro nga unta kitang tanan madani to listen to all the teachings of the church, for our happiness for our salvation. Ika-duha, that ang Catholic Church is not a church of happy happy, feel good religion. Daghan ganing dli muangay because our religion means to carry our own cross. The second reading tells us of the fact that Christians are always persecuted, that our way of life will not always be appreciated by the world today. The second reading with Saint Peter, [tells us] we carry our cross not because we love suffering, not because we love hunger not because we love homelessness, no it simply means a true following of Christ will always be a way of life that many would dislike you. So beware, let’s pray to St. Peter that we will be matatag. Dili ni feel good religion, but a religion deeply trusting in the Lord, in our unfaithfulness, sige lang like St. Peter musalig kita nga ubanan kita sa Dios sa atong paglakaw niining kalibutan nga many times unfriendly to those who follow Jesus.

Ang third and last nga atong takeaway ining fiesta. In our difficulty to carry the cross, in our unfaithfulness, Si Hesus knew how weak the apostles were, how many times they did not understand Jesus very well, kung may exam pa, they failed, wa makapasar. Yet today, in the biblical sense the name of Peter which is Simon, very human, very frail, Simon would be a traydor to Jesus, denying Jesus yet “you are now Peter and upon you I will build my church.” This beautiful news today for us in San Pedro Cathedral in Davao, this faith in the Lord, faith like that of Peter even how sinful we are, how small we are Jesus will say to us always, be strong. I will make you rock, hold on to the faith, keep all the teachings of the church, nevermind the suffering… keep on carrying your own cross and upon us, He will make the church strong in the modern world because our only hope, our only foundation, our only way to true happiness is our Lord Jesus Christ whom Peter would always in his limited, sinful ways, would always confess “as you are our Lord the Son of the living God.” In this sense my friends deeply, we must and we continue being happy in celebrating the feast of San Pedro Apostol.

Viva San Pedro! Viva!