Carrying our cross victoriously in Christ

(An excerpt of the homily of the Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D., during the 73rd Fiesta and Founding Anniversary of HCDC last September 14, 2024)

With its attack, Holy Cross, I believe that in many ways, in valid ways, direct, indirect, the first tone, the first color of formation sa Holy Cross is to tell us the love of God for us. Before we can declare that we love God, this college which began as a small school, time and again would tell us how precious we are, how mahal we are, how in love the Lord is with each one of us. The love that is said today “Walang iwanan”, synodal, we walk together in fact walking together, the life of the school shouldn’t be who is the brightest, and the fastest but it should be marked with love, walking together, glancing in the side kung basin naay maulahi, mihinay kay we want to spread the love of God, each one is so dear, each one is so important. This college time and again, never ending job to convey to us how much we are loved by Jesus, by the Lord.

In the second reading St. Paul, nice kaayo pagkasulti niya Jesus was there, God in heaven dili atong kadugo, bahala’g mangaunsa ta, bahala’g mangamatay ta, He is there, because of that love, He came down, gibiyaan Niya ang Iyang pagka-Dios, sent by the Father to be with us. For us to see, who God is in the flesh, and He walked with us, not only walked with us, He faced our worst enemy which is death. He faced our worst enemy by dying on the Cross simply because He saves us, He loves us, made us precious to His eyes before we could love Him, before we are worthy to be loved. Gahi atong mga ulo, atong panglantaw, atong ambisyon layo kaayo sa Dios yet the Lord continues to love us. This Mass is a testament, living reminder that the Lord loves us before we can love Him in return. And the college hopes that that kind of belief, that kind of conviction would be there in each one’s heart. Those who came under, or still under the roof of this college that dominating, overarching conviction that the love of God hovers above us kumbaga, would guide us, would protect us and if we fail miserably at most times that love of God will be with us again and again. Holy Cross, Holy Cross of Davao College.

Second takeaway is this, with the sign of the cross, the name of the college we have our way, a particular way, particular direction in life. The Cross is our style of living life, “If you want to follow me, if you want to gain true life, carry your own cross” meaning no shortcut. In the college, in this college, the thought that life can mean sacrifice, suffering at times ridiculed. I can give an example ha, maybe ma fail ta sa klase because you didn’t cheat, so to follow the way of the Lord, is to follow the way of the Cross, no other way, no shortcut. So we are told, the Lord loves us, second with that love we carry our own cross.

Third, is the assurance of victory. In the end, when the Cross, the first half of the Paschal Mystery was a sign of defeat even today St. Paul would say that the cross is foolishness to the people in this world but in the end, the Cross tells us we will win, we will be victorious because we don’t walk alone as I’ve said we walk with the love of Christ. The courage I believe would teach us the love of God. The college would form us to walk the difficult way no shortcut, live the values of the Gospel, the values of Jesus. And the college would constantly remind us in the end we will be victorious just as Christ was nailed on the Cross, in His resurrection, He showed us His victory.

My dear friends, my brothers and sisters today indeed is a beautiful day, the fiesta, the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. It is our fiesta, it is a fiesta of the PME fathers who are looking down on us, ang ilang sakripisyo now bearing fruit with this vibrant, nindot nga community today and also a challenge for us, in each one of us a challenge to be confident and whole and believe no matter what that we are loved by the Lord and to hold the conviction that true life and true success will only be achieved if we carry our own cross and thirdly victory will be ours. According to one author, “Victory only won in Christ”. In sumada my dear friends, in summary, this College will always be, its life will be colored with so much hope, that’s the theme for the next jubilee. Hopeful. Smiling. Confident because we have the love of God, we have the formula. Let’s carry our own cross and thirdly, we smile because we are sure in the end, we will be victorious.