Misa de Gracia of Most Holy Rosary Parish
Calmay, Dagupan City

Homily by Rev. Fr.Eric Galivo

Minor Basilica of Our Lady of Manaoag,
Manaoag, Pangasinan
21 May 2020
[video]

You will mourn, while the world rejoices and you will grieve, but your grief will turn into joy. (cf. Jn 16, 20)
Tatangis kayo at magdadalamhati ngunit magagalak ang sanlibutan.

Kaya ang tanong natin ay (So our question is) what is our joy as a believer? O di kaya’y sa panahon natin ngayon, what is our joy in this time of pandemic, what is our joy in this time of COVID-19. First, our joy is God’s continuous presence in our lives. Kahit ganito ang nangyari sa sanlibutan o di kaya’y sa bansa natin, kahit may public threat, health threat nandiyan pa rin, mayroon paring rason para tayo ay magalak (Whether this is the case in the world or in our country, despite the public threat, the health threat is still there, there is always a reason for us to be happy). Our joy is God’s continuous presence in our lives. The presence of God is always a source of joy for us so whenever we are aware of the presence of God we always experience consolation, we receive his strength, we feel his peace so in this time of COVID-19 what makes us feel secure and safe it is the presence of God.

Second, our joy is Mary’s intercession in our lives. Isa rin na nagbibigay ng kagalakan ay ang nandiriyan ang ating Inang Maria. Kaya nga ho ang Parokya ng Most Holy Rosary Calmay Parish ay nandirito ngayon, nagagalak, nagpapasalamat sa Diyos at si Maria ang nagbibigay ng kagalakan sa ating Parokya (One that brings joy is the presence of our Mother Mary. So the Parish of Most Holy Rosary Calmay Parish is here today, rejoicing, thanking God and Mary giving joy to our Parish). Mary help us by teaching us to face the difficulties in our life, mahirap ang pinagdaraanan natin ngayon pero nandiriyan sa tulong ni Maria. Mary help us by teaching us to face the difficulties in life and Mary help us to look at the problems of life with realism, not to be lost in them but to tackle them with courage and also faith, not to be weak but to know how to overcome them and Mary is close to us so that we won’t lost courage before the adversities in life or even before our own witnesses or even our sins. She gave us strength and point always to the path of her Son. Second, our joy is Mary’s intercession in our lives.

And third, our joy as believer is rooted in living our missions. We do not only find joy in receiving many blessings of God, we do not only find happiness in asking God to give us what we need. Our joy consists in being able to respond to the needs of the people we meet everyday and our Joy is found in sharing, contributing, not just accumulating God’s unlimited gifts. Ikatlo, our joy as believer is rooted in living our mission.

What is our joy as a believer, what is our joy in this time of pandemic? First, our joy is God’s continuous presence in our lives. Second, Mary’s intercession in our lives. And third, our joy as believer is rooted in living our missions. Amen.