The Reward is in the Resurrection

(An excerpt of the homily of the Most Reverend Romulo G. Valles, D.D. during the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Feb. 16, 2025 @ San Pedro Cathedral.)

Woe to you who are rich, meaning ang atong kalipay pangkalibutan lang or kung mao na imong paglaom you already received your reward. So busog lang man diay na imong tuyo ha, busog naka karon. Tama na, wala wala na. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, meaning ang atong kalipay ang karon nga bibo kaayo, mga young people salamat nanimba mo, basin naa moy mga amigo karon nga “enjoy man sila uy, hain man sila karon uy, ako nagsimba man karon, sila perti ka-enjoy.” Woe to you who laugh now, but you will grieve and weep.

When the real questions in life will come, di makamao mutubag because, their laughter, their joy, pangkalibutan lang. Woe to you when all speak well of you, daygon ka, ang mga kamot sa kalibutan, pangkalibutanong kamot, will clap, speak well of you, for their ancestors greeted the false prophets this way.

What is the tuyo of the church, this Sunday for us? “Oh God, who teach us that you abide, in hearts that are just and true. Grant that we may be so fashioned by your grace as to become a dwelling pleasing to you.”