Bishop Ness 58th Birthday Celebration
Immaculate Conception Cathedral
October 17, 2006 at 11:00 am
In the presence of my brother bishops who are recognized theologians and well-loved preachers, I feel awed by their eloquence, depth and theological giftedness, but allow me to share with you my own personal story. What does it mean to celebrate one's birthday? What does it mean to be grateful for this beautiful gift of life from God? I would like to capture my thoughts using the word LIFE as an acronym and then connect our reflection with the life of St. Ignatius of Antioch whose feast we celebrate today.
L - for love. The gift of life is a gift of love from God. If I have survived and managed to live all these past fifty-eight years of my life, it is because of God's love and mercy. I am grateful to the Lord for giving me this length of life in His service. With the psalmist, I can only cry out" "what will I render to the Lord for His goodness to me?" Yesterday, somebody gave me a birthday gift. It is a small statue of the shepherd boy made of lahar carrying a sheep on his shoulders. I believe this was given to me as a reminder of my role and responsibility in the diocese and in the church as a shepherd. I see Christ however as the shepherd and myself as the sheep He has been carrying on His shoulders especially in moments when I needed Him. There were times when my faith was not that strong, when my commitment was not that total, when my love was not that genuine and pure, He would always be there to carry me. His assurance tells me that He loves me unconditionally no matter what happens. Indeed our God is a great God! Our life is a clear testimony of His great love for us!
I - for initiative. Initiative comes from the Latin word initiatus which means to cause or facilitate the beginning of something. It is always God who takes the initiative to call, to do something good and beautiful in our lives. It is also God who sustains whatever good we have done with Him and through Him. I thank God for the gift of priesthood and episcopate inspite of my unworthiness. I have found joy, peace, happiness and fulfillment in everything He initiated in my life since I was a young boy. 58 years ago, God's call to life begun in San Fernando, Pampanga. 34 years ago, God's call to the priesthood was fulfilled. 8 years ago, God's surprising call to episcopate was entrusted to me. Finally, 3 years ago, God's unexpected call to be the first shepherd of the beautiful Diocese of Cubao rung loudly in my heart. I do not deserve any of these, but they are due to God's initiative. He called and I tried hard to give my total "yes". In a very concrete way, allow me to share with you God's initiative working in this beautiful diocese. Last January, we all witnessed the first wave of the diocesan-wide "General Reshuffle" of parish priests. Two other waves of transfers followed these past few months. As of today, I have installed almost all of them except for 5 priests. I am aware that this means adjustments, not only for priests but also for you, my dear faithful of Cubao. I heard of some complains, some comparisons, some misunderstanding, some miscalculations, some areas for improvement. But greater the shadow that marked these transfers, what brings great optimism in my heart, is that fact that what we have initiated is a good tradition that will benefit the priest and parishes as well. We have tried to do and did well I believe, is something new. Bishops have been asking me about it. I'm sure priests from other dioceses have been asking you about it. In my mind and in my heart, what we have initiated is God's initiative to call us into a new level of selfless service, detachment and mission. God took the initiative to call us into a new way of being a diocese, and we all said "yes", even though it meant change.
F - for favored from Latin word favere. It is a friendly regard shown toward another especially by a superior approving consideration or attention. The lord has favored me in many ways. The good people I have met in my life. Bishops, priests, religious and lay people who inspire, support, assists me in all my concerns and reponsibilities, simple people who have shown the face of God to my little self. The Lord has favored us with good priests in the Diocese of Cubao. The priests of Cubao as I often tell people are the "best in the world" including our committed religious men and women and lay people. We practice team-work. I am the "tem" and they are the "work". God is the agent of everything. Being blessed or favored is an objective state given by God and not based on happenstance. It is therefore a graced state of being.
E - for enthisiasm. Enthusiasm is another gift from above. It is a strong excitement of feeling, an inspiring zeal or favor. It is a life full of passion for the Lord. The life of a priest should be enthused with vigor, life, with fire for the ministry. If have maintained a strong enthusiasm in my priestly life, is because the Lord has blessed me throughout these years.
John Paul II said: "to die for the faith is a gift to some, to live the faith is a call for all." It Ignatius of Antioch was a man full of faith, hope and love. He lived his priestly life with passion. Looking forward to his death, he saw himself as the wheat of Christ, ground by the teeth of beasts to become pure bread. The example of St. Ignatius reminds us that our whole life must be at Christ's disposal. In the words of today's gospel: "the grain of wheat has to fall to the ground and die before it produces much fruit." Being and becoming a good Christian and priest means daily giving in response to the gift of Christ who came into the world so that all might have life. As children of God, our love, given and sustained in the Holy Spirit, invites us over and over again into a deeper intimacy with God, our Father. His saints are invitations to our longings and aspirations, to the meaning we bring to our lives, living challenges of hope. The witness of St. Ignatius of Antioch is the testimony we need of courage without measure to show us that it is possible. Faith and life are inseparable. Life without faith would have been without value.
I end with this request taken from the celebration of Chrism mass. Please pray for me "that despite my own unworthiness I may faithfully fulfill the office of apostles which Jesus Christ has entrusted to me. Pray that I may become more like our High Priest and Good Shepherd, the teacher and servant of all, and so be a genuine sign of Christ's loving presence among you." Amen. |
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