Facade of a Farmer’s Faith
Homily on the Memorial of San Isidro Labrador, 15 May 2024, DBPH Chapel, Talamban
Today we celebrate the fiesta of our own Parish, San Isidro Labrador here in Talamban.
San Isidro as we all know is the patron saint of farmers. He was born in Madrid around the 11th century. When he grew up he worked in the fields that belonged to a certain wealthy man named Juan de Vargas. He got married to Maria Torribia with whom he had a son. Although he lived a very simple life, his prayer was amazingly profound and his charity to the poor exemplary. Because of this a good number of miracle stories have been attributed to him when he was still alive. Allow me to share with you just one of the more popular stories connected with his consistency in praying and attending the daily Mass.
It is said that one day his fellow workers reported to their master that Isidro was always coming late for work. Upon investigation his master was able to verify the report, and eventually he found out the very reason why: every morning Isidro would first go to church and spend some time to pray. But on the other hand what surprised him most was to see an angel plowing the field while Isidro was at prayer. This amazingly supernatural phenomenon somehow explained why despite Isidro’s being late, his harvest every year would still be much more bountiful compared to any of his fellow workers.
I guess this would sufficiently explain why San Isidro eventually became the patron saint of farmers and all those who are involved in manual labor. (And I am glad to let you know that we are all invited to attend the Pontifical Mass in our Parish Church later this morning at 10am to be presided by his Excellency Archbishop Jose Palma.)
However, one of the better places to be on this day is actually in Lucban, the hometown of my parents located in Quezon Province. This town is famous for the longganisang Lucban, the pansit habhab, espasol, broas and many other goodies. It also boasts of an old Spanish church, and a well visited pilgrim center called “Kamay ni Hesus.” Above all, this town has become famous for its annual “Pahiyas Festival” one of the greatest tourist destinations in Southern Tagalog Region during summer. Just like in many other places where farming is the main source of livelihood, in Lucban the people are very devoted to San Isidro Labrador. In fact every year on this day, the whole town celebrates in his honor the “Pahiyas Festival”, in thanksgiving for a rich and bountiful harvest, and at the same time invoking his powerful intercession for the next planting season.
The main highlight of this very colorful festival is the procession of the statue of San Isidro around the town passing amidst houses, the facades of which are fully decorated with rice stalks, fresh fruits and vegetables, native handicrafts and all sorts of products. This symbolic gesture of displaying artistically on the facade of houses the fruits of human toil and and the work of human hands is a unique expression of joyful thanksgiving and trust in divine providence. I hope one day you too can make your own pilgrimage to Lucban and experience for yourself the colorful Pahiyas Festival, considered today as the Philippines biggest harvest festival.
Let me end with one more inspiring example. My dentist is remarkably prayerful. Every time she receives a client at her clinic for a check-up or treatment, she would first lay her hands on him/her, close her eyes and pray over him/her. She would pray especially for her clients’ intentions lifting up to the Lord long petitions on their behalf. And then she would invoke the Lord to be truly present and ask him to bring success to the work she is about to do on her clients. It is only after finishing a sincere and heartfelt prayer on her lips that she would begin the work of her hands. I guess this woman dentist could be the female version of San Isidro Labrador today. Her example proclaims to everyone that without praying to Jesus who is truly present with us, we can actually do nothing, and will not accomplish anything.
May San Isidro Labrador, inspire us and pray for us that the work of our human hands may yield to a bountiful harvest for the greater glory of God. GiGsss!
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