The only shepherd is God

(An excerpt of the Most Reverend Romulo G. Valles D.D. During his Homily at the 9th Parochial Fiesta of Sta. Cruz Parish, Talicud Island, IGaCoS, Davao Del Norte, May 3, 2025.)

Today is the fourth Sunday of the season of Easter. That’s why we hear it said, Alleluia, Alleluia! The foundation of our faith, ang foundation sa Church is not a theory, is not a beautiful thesis, maayo with deep teaching, no! Our faith is not founded basically on doctrine but our faith is founded on an event, extraordinary event. And that is the resurrection of Jesus now symbolized by the Easter candle.

Jesus defeated death. Dili kay Siya ang makagagahum mopilde sa kangitngit, tinuod na pero namatay Siya, Iyang gipilde ang kamatayon. In short, any kabagis, any ka-manipulation, any binuang, any darkness, any violence, any crime, any darkness in humanity is now assured as being conquered by Christ who rose from the dead. According to Saint Paul, He conquered death which is death is a summary of all kasakit, luha, dimalas, tanan. He conquered death. So, this is the fourth Sunday of the joyous season of pagkabanhaw.

Now this Sunday sa Church tradition, there are eight Sundays of the season of Easter. Karon ang ikaupat. This Sunday may nickname siya. It is, kabalo ko nga mother’s day karon. Pero ang mother’s day dili na calendar sa Simbahan. Nice. But outside na. Murag father’s day ba. Very nice. Happy mother’s day by the way! So karon, Good Shepherd Sunday ang iyang angga, ang iyang tag. Fourth Sunday of Easter but naa siyay additional tag, Good Shepherd Sunday because of the significant beautiful Gospel reading. Si Jesus miingon “ang akong mga karnero maminaw sa akong tingog”. Meaning tingog sa shepherd. But maybe I’m tempted to cut it out but I would say, anyway bahalag taas ang wali.

Tinuod gyud, ang shepherd, iyang mga karnero makadungog. Ang shepherd naa siyay style, makadungog ang iyang mga karnero. Katong dili iyang sakop, dili iyang panon dili moduol niya. Pero ang iyang panon, the sheep knows the voice of the shepherd. Ang akong mga karnero naminaw sa akong tingog ug nakaila ako kanila. Tinuod pud na. Grabe. Wala man gud tay shepherd ug sheep, flock. Didto kay ilaha gyud ni mga sakop. Apan dinhi sa teksto karon, for the Israelites the only shepherd is God.