Don Bosco Philippines South Province

Homily on the 11th Sunday in OT, 16 June 2024, Fathers Day, Maryville Subd., Talamban

Last week I experienced one of the longest trips in my life. After flying from Cebu to Cagayan De Oro last Sunday, I travelled 3 hours from Laguindingan airport to Malaybalay City, then on Tuesday, 5 hrs from Malaybalay to Kidapawan City, and then on Thursday, 6 hrs from Kidapawan to Mati City, Davao Oriental – a total of 580 kms of road trip in 14 hours. Two reasons why I had to make this trip: (1) to give a two-day lecture in Paul VI Institute of Liturgy, and (2) to concelebrated at the Thanksgiving Masses of our newly ordained priest, Fr Genson Banguis, SDB, a native of Kidapawan and now assigned in Don Bosco Mati.

There are two things that actually impressed me in our road trip: (1) the hills and valleys of Mindanao are so green and fertile that a wide variety of fruit-bearing trees and plants grows everywhere from Durian, Lansones, Marang, Mangosteen, Mangoes, Pomelo, Rambutan and Santol to Dragon Fruits, Watermelon, Bananas, Papayas, Pineapples and Coffee beans, just to mention some. In fact in certain places, so many freshly harvested fruits are being sold all along the highway and so many truck-loads of fruits are being transported everyday to different cities, local and abroad; and (2) the roads and highways in Mindanao are so wide that they range from four up to six lanes, and in a few other cities, from eight to as many as ten lanes. I noticed this esp. in the central part of Kidapawan City, where the Cathedral is located. The main highway has five lanes on each side with a row of majestic Agoho trees growing on the island in between. I guess these roads have been widened in order to greatly facilitate both the movement of people and the transport of products.

Seeing all these, I could only wonder and marvel at the natural resources of Mindanao and the many hardworking farmers that make the land super productive. We cannot but raise our eyes to heaven and thank God for the mega-bundant blessings he continues to pour out on us, his dearly beloved children.

We are now on the Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time. The gospel passage we have heard today shows us Jesus proclaiming the Good News of God’s fruitful presence among his people. And in his ministry of preaching, he narrates two interesting parables about the Kingdom of God. In the first parable he compares God’s Kingdom to something like a farmer who scatters seeds on the land. Without him knowing how, those seeds eventually sprout and grow and bear fruit abundantly until harvest time.

In the second parable, Jesus compares God’s Kingdom to something like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds, and yet when sown it grows and becomes the largest of trees with branches so large and wide that it provides a cool shade for birds to build their nests.

What could these parables be revealing about God and his reign among us? I believe it is this, that God sent Jesus his Son as the divine farmer who went about travelling from one town to another to scatter the seeds of God’s Word in the hearts of his people. And amazingly many of those who accepted his message of love responded with faith and eventually bore abundant fruits for the good of others. In other words, God’s reign is no other than God himself speaking to each one of us, touching our hearts, and making us grow and bear mega-bundant fruits of justice, peace, kindness and love for everyone. If the world we live in and the community where we belong have become so beautiful and fruitful, we believe it is because God has made it so and because we continue to be open and receptive to the good work he has been doing in our lives. And no matter how small the acts of goodness, kindness and love planted in our hearts and in the hearts of people around us might be, we believe and can expect that like the smallest mustard seed that grows into the largest of trees, all these positive experiences will soon make us grow amazingly in our faith and empower us to make this world a better place to live in both for ourselves and the future generations to come.

But there is a big challenge connected to this: how open are we to what God is trying to do in our lives?

Today is Fathers Day and we greet all fathers who are present here “Happy Fathers Day to all of you!” We thank you for accepting the gift and responsibility of being a father to your own children. By your fatherly love and dedication to your family you are actually reflecting the eternal love of God our Almighty Father. Indeed you are for your kids a sign and bearer of God’s fatherly love.

Allow me to close with this story. There was once a man who finished Civil Engineering in UP. He quickly got a job in a government agency and eventually got married. His job soon brought him and his family to Manila where he became active in various religious organizations helping in the projects of both the parish and the school where his sons were enrolled. When he retired from work he dedicated the rest of his life to serve as a lay minister in the parish at the same time promoting natural family planning and the family life apostolate. I feel honored to let you know that this man is no other than my own father, Daddy Goying.

On a more personal note I must admit I was not really very close to my Dad. And he was not that expressive with his affections towards us his children. But I definitely can recall having had several memorable bonding moments with him. When I was a baby he held me in his arms. When I started going to school he covered my books and notebooks and even sharpened my pencils right before my eyes. He taught me how to play Chess and Pingpong even if I never got to be good at these games. He also taught me how to use wood working tools in our little garage. And when I did something wrong he did not hesitate to scold me.

Once in a while he drove me to school and picked me up after. He attended my graduation and brought me to the seminary in Pampanga. When I lost my bag full of clothes, he accompanied me to buy new ones of my choice. He gifted me with a Bible and advised me regarding my vocation. He attended my First Profession as a Salesian, and helped me don the cassock during my investiture. I felt that he loved me with a father’s heart and he loved us siblings equally well without favoritism. Above all he was faithful to my Mom and loved her as her one and only queen till the very end.

When the time was ripe God took him after many years of fruitful and dedicated service to us and to our Parish community. Although he died six years prior to my priestly ordination, I was just glad to have been able to assist him in his dying moments. This homily is not meant to brag about how good my Dad was – he also had his own share of imperfections – but I’m sharing this simply to highlight how the many simple little things fathers do can amazingly make such a big impact on our lives as their children.

And so I invite the children who are here present to find time today to express your appreciation for the small and big acts of kindness your fathers have done to you. And we offer this Mass especially for their intentions. Finally let us spend this day re-echoing the response to the Psalm we have sung earlier: Lord, it is good to give thanks to you, especially for the wonderful and precious gift of fathers in our families. GiGsss!

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