In Our Priests, Jesus is Present

(An excerpt from the homily of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D. on July 2, 2022 during the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the presence of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers in the Archdiocese of Davao and the Installation of the New Parish Priest at the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, F. Torres St., Davao City)

“Oh Dios, Amahan sa tanang mga gasa, [Blessed Sacrament Fathers] ang tanang mga gasa gikan Kanimo, among giila ang tanang ania kanamo lakip ang among kinaiyahan diin kami nagagikan, tudloi kami sa pagpakabana sa mga kaayohan sa Imong dakong gugma ug tudloi kami sa paghigugma kanimo sa tibuok namong kasingkasing ug sa tibuok namong kusog.” Tudloi kami to be conscious, to deepen our “thank you Lord”, holding on to these gifts. One of the wonderful things that the Fathers brought to Davao is the love and devotion to the Blessed Sacrament.

Pope Francis’ Apostolic Letter – DESIDERIO DESIDERAVI, meaning I have earnestly desired [sobra]. Kini nga document ang reference mao ang giingon sa Luke 22:15 “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer”. Si Jesus ang gusto gyod nga we will be with Him in the Paschal meal in the Holy Eucharist. Before Pope Francis said this [through the apostolic letter] we already have it here in Davao through the Blessed Sacrament Fathers.

Unsa kaha ang tono, mensahe nato karon sa liturhiya as we celebrate 50 years of the presence of the Blessed Sacrament Fathers and also sa bag-ong set sa mga pari nga mangalagad kanato. Unsa man ang mapadayunong mission sa mga pari diri sa atong parokya?

First Reading from prophet Amos, “miingon ang Ginoo, niadtong adlawa, ipahiuli KO, [I will restore] ang gingharian ni David sama sa usa ka balay nga nagun-ob, ayuhon KO ug ipahiuli KO, tukoron KO kini, [I will rebuild] nag-ingon ang Ginoo nga maoy muhimo niini. Dad-on KO paghibalik, tukuron KO sila, ipahimutang KO sila.” God will act decisively, no doubt, we may not see ang lihok sa Ginoo but the first reading would tell us, HE WILL ACT. He is in our midst.

(the priests) Ang ilang bulohaton, ang ilang mandato, ang ilang spirit, ang ilang inspiration, first simply to pray that they will always be conscious that they are merely instruments of the Lord and it is the Lord that would work through us; that day after day mu minister sila mutrabaho sila isip mga pari but it is the Lord, “it is I who will do the work, it is I who would restore”, It is I who would let people come back to the Lord. Mga igsuon ko mag-ampo kita, that they will be very conscious, that we would see beyond their nice personality unta we pray that when they talk, when they smile, when they frown a little bit kay naay problema, when they pat our backs, we would feel what the prophet Amos said, “I AM PRESENT,” wala ko mubiya sa inyong taliwala. It is the Lord who works, it is the Lord who gets things done.

Mangutana kita, tinuod diay kung we are not renewed slowly but surely, nga mga parishioners uban sa mga pari magpabilin ta nga old wine skins but we know that the spirit of God would always make us new in a sense, dunay daan dunay bago but ang daan is always inspired, always restored to make the old heart, mind, spirit to make it anew always, fresh anew.