With Might and Mercy
Homily on Saturday, 26th Week in OT; 3 October 2026, DBFC Chapel Talamban
It was in 1982 that Fr Jose Carbonel, after finishing his term as Provincial, was appointed Master of Novices in Canlubang. Since he loved eating bananas, he led his first batch of Novices in planting bananas all over the farm behind the seminary. Every afternoon, rain or shine, he and the Novices would be digging holes, two or three meters apart, then put organic fertilizer into them before planting the banana shoots.
One day however, while all the bananas were steadily growing tall and healthy and have reached the threshold of bearing fruits, a powerful typhoon suddenly came, and in just a few hours, it swept almost everything away. Poor Fr Carbonel, when he saw the devastation left behind by the typhoon, he became so upset, desperate and heartbroken. Then, we heard him say these words as if echoing those uttered by Job, “The Lord has given, and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord.”
Today’s first reading (Job 42:1 – 3, 5 – 6, 12 – 17) presents to us the conclusion of the story of Job. As we have heard in the past days, Job could not understand why he had to suffer terribly in life and experience overlapping trials and tribulations in spite of his being a righteous man.
But here is the twist. When God finally spoke to him and opened his eyes to the many realities of this world that he was never aware of, he realized how infinitely powerful God really was, in contrast with his own weakness, vanity and powerlessness. So, at the end, Job could not but repent in dust and ashes, regretting all the words that he had said before his awesome Creator. And after he had surrendered himself entirely to God’s infinite might and mercy, he began to be blessed again, even much more abundantly than he had ever experienced before.
This brings us to the gospel passage we have heard today (Lk 10:17 – 24) the joyful return of the seventy-two. We still recall what was narrated to us two days ago. When Jesus sent the seventy-two missionary disciples to proclaim the Good News, he instructed them not to bring anything along with them. He said “Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals…” In other words, Jesus wanted them to trust completely in divine Providence and to surrender themselves totally to the might and mercy of God.
And so, after having experienced a very fruitful mission, the seventy-two returned to Jesus so happy as if they were in cloud nine. They said “Lord, even the demons were subject to us because of your name.” Upon hearing his disciples’ reports Jesus himself praised the Father for he too had realized how the power bestowed on him can also be shared with those who were willing to be empty of themselves and of the passing things of this world in order to be filled with God’s grace.
May we too learn the same lesson, to be empty of the passing things of this world so we can trust God fully as his missionary disciples, and thus experience for real his incredible might and mercy. For he indeed is an awesome and amazing God. GiGsss!