Word of God made flesh

(Homily of Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., Archbishop of Davao during the Pastoral Visit Day 1 at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, Ma-a – October 12, 2023.)

Kining tanan that we call pulso, the pulse, faith life sa parokya, you know very well unsa man kini, kining atong makanunayon nga engagement sa Ginoo. Ang makanunayon nga feel na feel, the experience of God taking care of us, of God being present with us. Mao na everything sa faith life sa Maa we always like this afternoon, we always come to the altar, kay kini man ang pinaka, pinaka klaro, God-given, Jesus gave this handumanan, the Holy Eucharist would assure us, day in and day out, that that Lord nga atong gitoohan, kanang Ginoo nga atong gitoohan, dili layo, dili tua sa panganod apan Ginoo nga mulingkod uban kanato, to eat with us and not only that to offer himself, his body and blood to be our food, our sustenance aron malig-on, mabuhi ang atong pagtoo.

Kung naminaw kamo sa first reading, very dramatic, tingali’g you paid attention, that was the old style of worship, meaning old style that they were assured of God’s presence. What was it, kung naminaw mo sa whole reading, nag assemble sila sa tent, very elaborate tent ha… They were assembling the tent tungod kay ilahang I-display, ang papan, tablets, two tablets of the 10 commandments… Unya kung sugod na ang ilang encounter sa Ginoo, the Word of God in the 10 commandments, maputos ug panganod ang tent. There the people of the Old Testament were assured that they have God with them, that God will always be with them. Ang Ginoo present kanunay sa ilahang kinabuhi.

Today, maghisgot kita’g pagtoo, dili lang tent, dili lang that wonderful two tablets of stone nga sa 10 commandments pa, mysterioso kaayo tong mga lights nga gicarve sa bato. We have no less than the Son of God the Word of God made flesh in Jesus. So dili na Old Testament, tablets of stone, we have the very Son of God, the Word made flesh with us to assure us that He is always present amongst us.