Extended Love and Mercy

(An excerpt of the homily of the Most Reverend Romulo G. Valles D.D. during the Renewal of Vows of Hermanitas de la Anunciacion Sisters, Most Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Calinan March 25, 2025.)

Why is the Church telling us or offering to us a reminder of this feast of the annunciation of the Lord number one is past tense, human na ang annunciation. We have heard of the story in the gospel, past tense but yet, human na, done na done, the recalling of that event should move our hearts to thank the Lord. He does not have to send Gabriel but also he cannot resist himself. Wala tay merit, wala tay value, who are we, mga gahig ulo; but yet he sent the angel to announce to us the good news because he cannot resist because God is love and mercy. So number one today, we thank the Lord for that event in history that this Lord nga dili unta, no compulsion, no reason but he showed himself, who he is, nigula ang iyang nature, that is love and mercy; always extending himself to us. But that past tense should move us also to thank the singular person so dear to us in history, this young lady of Nazareth who, dared to say yes to the Lord. Thank you Lord for this event, your love and mercy extended to us and the grace that you gave to Mary, that young lady of Nazareth to say yes to your offer and there began the first moments of the history of salvation. We close our eyes Lord, the past event, move us to praise you and to thank you, to remind ourself of the truth that you’ll never never stop loving us and extending, announcing your love and mercy for us.