The End of the Christmas Story

(An excerpt of the Homily of the Most Rev. Romulo G. Valles, D.D. on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord last January 11, 2025 at San Pedro Cathedral.)

When he came, when he was incarnated, whole story of Christmas, overflow pa Advent, the angel told Mary: “You are to be the Mother of the Savior, the Messiah.” Whole story of incarnation, God becoming man. So annunciation, unya dako nga event, birth of our Savior, now Three Kings, Magi but karon at the end, it’s the end of the Christmas Story.

Keep in mind, lahi mani siya, dako na man Siya but still today’s feast tells us He is God becoming man and the one we waited for. Now, let me explain in today’s feast makita nato starring na sad si John the Baptist. Keep in mind, sa Christmas story, John giprepare Siya, he will herald, he will proclaim, he will announce that He would come and then may report nga nakadungog si John bahin kang Jesus unya niingon siya nga: “Somebody is still coming, sikat kaayo ko, you think I am a man of God but no somebody greater will come, the one, the Messiah. I am not even worthy to untie His sandals.” John is starring here, now Jesus came from Galilee to John and the Jordan to be baptized by him meaning by John the Baptist. John tried to prevent Him, John tried saying: “No, I need to be baptized by You, because He is greater than me, I need to be blessed by You and yet you are coming to me?”

Therefore, today’s feast with the words of John, He is the one, John himself testified this, last day of Christmas, He is the one na atong gipaabot then He said: “Allow it now” kay ingon man si John dili man mahimo, Ikaw ang mobunyag nako but He said allow it now for it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness, sa Cebuano tanang pagkamatarong meaning pud He is the Messiah but He would be with us, sabay sa tama, tanang pagkamatarong. Yes, He is God niingon si John: “Please let me ako magpabunyag sa imoha” but He said “Allow it, I’m also human, bisag I don’t need the baptism, but to show any act of repentance, very good, all righteousness,” nagpakumbaba siya to give an example.