He is the Source of Goodness and Love

(Homily of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao during the 13th Sunday in Ordinary time at San Pedro Cathedral Parish, July 2.)

“Forever, I will sing the goodness of the Lord” – the missionaries like in the first reading only held into the goodness in the message of our faith.

We do many terrible things, but my dear friends in our faith life, like many families in Davao, who like this woman and family in this first reading, wala pay dignity but the families welcomed these missionaries, [PME fathers, welcomed by old families in Davao] knowing that they’re bringers, bearers of the goodness and I’m sure Archbishop Thibault and company, later, [had] joy in seeing a lot of us, birth of new life in us.

Forever, I will sing the goodness of the Lord kontra throw away culture. That salmo, implies strongly that He is the only source of goodness, of joy, of meaning, of our lives. In our faith, He is the source of our tinuod nga kalipay, lasting, eternal, everlasting goodness, therefore it is a requirement by sheer logic; you want to be excellent, follow the Lord.

My dear friends, the Gospel reading says, “Jesus said to his apostles, whoever loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me and whoever loves son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me.” Whoever loves father or mother more than me, is not worthy to sing, forever, I will sing the goodness of the Lord because you cannot follow that meaning si papa, si mama can be my source of goodness and you will agree.

In the Jewish society, the first 3 commandments are about God but the fourth, “honor your father and mother,” so therefore the statement of Jesus is very shocking. Family is very important and yet Jesus says, “I am number one.”

When we don’t see this loving kining mg 2nd, 3rd level but loving God, singing to God, “You forever are the source of goodness and love.” Can we pay the price my dear friends of discipleship of being true, better or worse?

When Elisha went to the place, I’m quite sure he did not expect goodness, but in the midst of this, you will also see that the mothers, fathers, sons and daughters who would not resent that we love the Lord but in fact it is husband, wife, father and mother, who are so supportive, painful man willing sila mu say, “okay love the Lord for forever He is the source of goodness and love.”