Keep The Faith

(Excerpt from the homily of Most Reverend Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao on the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the 63rd Parochial Fiesta Celebration of the Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, on August 15, 2022, F. Torres St., Davao City)

For the Feast of the Universal Church we have the opening prayer of the Eucharist which is about honouring the Blessed Mother that says “Almighty ever loving God who assumed and have taken the Immaculate Virgin Mary, the mother of your Son, body and soul into the heavenly glory, and the second part is all about us, it says that “grant we pray that we may always be attentive to the things that are above, may we merit to be the sharers of her glory.” This fiesta is not only honouring her but for us to be touched, to be inspired, to be attentive to the things above, and to share her glory. The shaping of hearts and minds sadly does not include the things above. But in today’s Liturgy it somehow touches us. What are those things? I would humbly offer three things, not of my own but coming from the Holy Bible. The First one, from the book of Revelation is quiet strange, difficult to read, and do not think it is easy. The symbol, signs, and codes, are written in the difficult times and it is difficult to write directly. In short, it is difficult to be a Christian and difficult to be a Catholic.

John was teaching and encouraging people to keep their faith. It was mentioned in the Bible that his vision, heaven was opened and there is an Ark of the Covenant. The Ark of the Covenant is the contract between God and man and reminding us that the contract is not 50/50. The contract is always on the side of God 100% even if we break the contract. God is faithful and will never abandon us. Another sign, a woman clothed by the sun, well dazzling, and a sign red dragon described as waiting that the child will be born. A male child was born and destined to rule all the nations with an iron hand. When the dragon was there waiting to stop the child, the child was taken up by God into His throne. The woman herself fled into the desert where she has a place prepared by God.

The first reading is not a smiling life, problemless life, but difficult. John was saying keep your faith. Readings are beautiful reminders because it tells us our life. The bottom line is do not forget that the covenant and contract is alive and God will always honour the contract, He will be with us. My dear young people the Church for this Feast of the Blessed Mother, telling us again to keep your faith. You are not alone; God will be there, He is not a passive God. God who is active and often not seen because our eyes are blurred of the world today. Our eyes appear in confusion, stress, discouragements, hopelessness, but God is always preparing a place for us.

Second from the second reading of St. Paul to the Corinthians, St. Paul says, do not forget that in life God will be with you. When you keep your faith it will be a constant battle. Other force will be attractive. Do not forget that in this battle of poverty, oppression, racism, and threat to peace, God will be with you and do not forget that He is the one behind us. He is commander in chief. The ultimate enemy and hard to destroy that we will have to conquer is death and God will conquer that enemy for us.

Recently we know, that this pandemic continues spreading until now, death was for everyone. Death is the worst enemy in our lives. St. Paul says, Jesus conquered death and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary when she died, body and soul she was quickly taken by God to heaven. Yes, she died, but death was not able to touch her, no corruption because after her death she was taken up into heaven.

Lastly, in today’s Gospel reading, look at Mary it was on the scene of visitation when Mary went to Elizabeth in her stressful life. Mary said, my soul and my spirit rejoices in the Lord. Mary, same with us, encountered problems and difficulties in life, but she still remained joyful and confident, because she had the Lord in herself.