Coming Home

The Lord appointed seventy-two other disciples and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place, where he himself was to go. And he said to them, “The harvest is rich, but the workers are few. So you must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers to his harvest. Courage! I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Set off without purse or bag or sandals; and do not stop at the homes of those you know.”

“Whatever house you enter, first bless them saying: ‘Peace to this house.’ If a friend of peace lives there, the peace shall rest upon that person. But if not, the blessing will return to you. Stay in that house eating and drinking at their table, for the worker deserves to be paid. Do not move from house to house.”

“When they welcome you in any town, eat what they offer you. Heal the sick who are there and say to them: ‘The kingdom of God has drawn near to you.'”

Luke 10:1-9

It was a huge hall. A fellow priest told me that approximately eighty percent of the catholic clergy of the Philippines are here. For five days, the World Trade Center will be home to the clergy of the Philippines. Priests from every corner of the Philippines have come to pray, renew their commitment, and celebrate friendships temporarily separated by distance and time.

We sat at tables distinguished by the color of the tablecloth matched with our IDs. I had a white ID holder. White is the color assigned to priests who have served twenty or more years in the ministry. A few tables away were those assigned pink ID holders, the bishops. Today, I had the chance to greet particular bishops.

On the whole, my encounters with bishops were pleasant and encouraging. I greeted Bishop Bay of Calbayog. I even teased him and said, “I still cannot believe that you are a bishop.” Bishop Bay laughed and responded, “I could not even believe that I am a bishop, how much more others like you.” We both laughed. I also met Bishop Yet Cabahug of Surigao. He still had the same naughty smile and comments. He is still the same Fr. Yet of our Collegio Filipino days in the early eighties. I approached Bishop Vicente Navarra, who smiled and asked me, “Do you still run?” Bishop Haoshan also approached me and asked about my Mandarin. He told me about his ten years as a missionary in Taiwan. I saw Bishop Rudy Beltran, who hugged me and bragged to those around him, “We were together. We belonged to the same group (i.e. those doing their post-graduate studies in Philosophy).”

My former classmate, Bishop Chito Tagle, approached me and in a low voice whispered something that sounded like this: “We must talk. Tell us what to do.” Over lunch I had a meeting with Bishop Pedro Arigo. His executive secretary Rudy Diamante was also with us to discuss future plans for the Commission on Prisoners’ Welfare. Towards the end of the day, I saw Bishop Cortez, auxiliary bishop of Manila. When I greeted him, instead of a smile he gave me a disparaging look and an equally disparaging greeting, “Ano na ang nangyayari sa iyo?” (What has happened to you?)

The remark hit me like a hard punch in the chest. I have not spoken to Bishop Cortez for many years. I think the last conversation I really had with him was before he became a bishop. The remark seared me deep and left an unpleasant burning feeling within. I tried to humor myself by recalling Fr. Rolly Mabutol’s repeated remark drawn from Fr. Cantalemasa’s talk: “Authority no longer works!!!” Fr. Cantalamesa talked about how the European church is desperately trying to assert its authority, insisting on laws prescribing this and prohibiting that. He observed that this is not the way of Jesus, who began with grace and blessing before asserting his authority. This sensitive point became a joke of sorts when priests at our table concluded that the reason why I and Fr. Raul de los Santos sat together was because of our status. We both did not have any parishes because our “bishops love us very much.”

“Authority no longer works.” On the contrary, it still does. It can build up or destroy. It can encourage or discourage. I looked at myself and the last twenty-seven years and ten months of my priesthood. I too had authority as parish priest, head of certain commissions and committees. I too exercised authority at my level. I had to humbly ask the same question, “I have authority but how do I use it?”

The bishops presided over all the liturgies and gave the homilies. It was a day of looking at the church and an important aspect in its life, authority. I thanked God for all the bishops. I thanked God most of all for all the priests who definitely outnumber the bishops.

After the Mass, Fr. Rex Arjona and Edu Gariguez rode in my jeep as we traveled to San Jose. Fr. Vic de Jesus had prepared dinner for those among us who could attend a “petite alumni homecoming.” I enjoyed talking and listening to these two younger brother priests. When we got to San Jose, priests were eating supper with seminarians. There was lively and happy conversation. I sat at the table occupied by Fr. Vic de Jesus, the rector. A former parishioner, now a seminarian, Mark sat next to me and gave me a copy of Insta dedicated to the memory of Fr. Tomas Green. I looked at Fr. Green’s picture on the cover and remembered this holy and wise professor. San Jose was his home. Fr. Tom made San Jose our home too.

It was a simple but hearty dinner. The conversation was pleasant and heart-warming. I forgot the bishop’s earlier rude remark.

After dinner as I drove Fr. Edu to Philamlife Homes, I quietly savored a good feeling. Indeed there is something greater than the pain of discrimination and rejection --the grace of homecoming. Having come home to San Jose, pains are assuaged…indeed, the Tagalog word is more eloquent: “tahanan.” Here, indeed one stops crying (tahan) when our alma mater welcomes her sons back home.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for my home, San Jose Seminary. I thank you for Fr. Vic, James, and Cel who have given their lives to keep our home nice and warm. Give us, Lord, warm, welcoming and healing hearts as well. Bless our bishops. Bless us your priests. Let your grace above all overflow in our lives. Amen.

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