“Where are you?,” God asks us

By Natalie Hazel P. Quimlat, MD

NAGA CITY --- Legazpi Bishop Joel Baylon presided over the solemn eucharistic celebration on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary last December 8 at the Immaculate Conception Parish in Naga City. At the start of his homily, the prelate clarified that the solemn occasion being celebrated refers to the birth of Mary, who was born without original sin. “When Mary was conceived, she was blessed with the special grace of having no stain of original sin,” he explained.

The first Good News

“What is the significance of this feast for us then?” Baylon asked. “All of us were born with the stain of original sin, which we inherited from our first parents: Adam and Eve. Hence, when we are born, we receive the Sacrament of Baptism to become part of God’s family again. The Sacrament also cleanses us of the stain of original sin, but this does not totally erase sin in man because man continues to sin and sometimes forget God.”

According to the prelate, an answer can be found in the second letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, wherein St. Paul wrote: “God chose us, even before the world was created, to be holy and without sin before Him.”

“This was the original plan of God,” Baylon said. “Thus, this feast is significant to us as a reminder of God’s original plan for us. Moreover, God does not forsake us. Committing sin does not put an end to God’s love for us. The revelation of God’s plan to save man and bring him back to Him is proof of this and is the first Good News; and this plan was to be carried out through Jesus Christ, our Lord, with Mary having a vital role for this plan to be fulfilled.”

“How then can we be part of God’s original plan for us once more?” the prelate asked again. To which he answered, “We go back to the questions God asked our first parents.”

Where are we before God? Can we say, “Here I am, Lord”?

“Where are you?” This was the first question God asked Adam and Eve. According to Baylon, it is important for us to know where are loved ones are all the time, or if possible, to be with them always. This is also true for any one who is important to us, he said, “especially those who need assistance and care.”

“It is also the case with God,” he said. “It is God’s joy to find us in from Him and it is God’s sorrow to find us lost and missing. Thus, one of the most beautiful images of Jesus about Himself is that of the Good Shepherd, because just as God does, the Good Shepherd will always look for that one missing sheep to bring it back to the sheepfold.”

“God will always to look for us,” the prelate said.

God clothes us

“Who said you are naked?” This was the second question God asked, specifically to Adam. While it is true that Adam and Eve did not have clothes on them, Baylon said, God clothed them with goodness, righteousness and love.

“In our world today, how do we feel we are naked?” he asked and gave several situations wherein one can feel naked, especially children and women who are raped, abused or stripped off their dignity.

“Sometimes we grow up thinking we are naked,” the prelate said. “Thus, we clothe ourselves with material and worldly things like money, power, fleshly desires, and weapons.”

“If we stand before the Lord,” Baylon exhorted, “[He] will clothe [us] with His goodness, acknowledge us as His child, and love us unconditionally. [We don’t have to be naked again and we] will never be naked [anymore].”

Being accountable for our deeds

“Why did you do this?” This was the third question God asked, specifically to Eve. Man is the only one who can be held accountable for his actions, including those he did not do. “God will ask us about everything we do and everything we have not done,” the prelate said and again, enumerated situations wherein one may be held accountable before the Lord, such as moments when one cheated, held back to say the truth, abused another, or deprived someone of help.

“These 3 questions remind us of God’s original plan for us,” Baylon said, “And if we are able to answer, we will stand righteous before the Lord. We will not hide. We will not look for things to clothe us.”

I am the handmaid of the Lord

In closing, Baylon exhorted to look to Mary for inspiration, for these 3 questions were answered by her. The Lord asked her, “Where are you, Mary?” and she answered, “Here I am, Lord.” She was asked, “Who said you are naked?” and she replied, “I am Your servant. I am Yours [and You clothe me].” Lastly, she was also asked, “Why did you do this”?”, to which she answered, “[I am the handmaid of the Lord.] Be it done unto me according to thy Word.”

“These are answers of someone whose heart is open to God’s plan, whose soul has no stain of original sin,” Baylon continued to exhort. “Indeed, it is difficult to answer like Mary, but we must strive to do so. Sometimes, we fall short, we forget, we deceive the Lord (and He knows it), but the Lord assures us of His unconditional love for us, which will bring us to salvation if only we allow Him to work in our lives as Mary did.”

The Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary coincided with the 2nd Sunday of Advent this year and was observed last December 8 only in Parishes under the title of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception. Other Parishes observed this solemn occasion the following day, December 9.

Fr. Roy Gueriña, Parochial Vicar of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Naga City, led the Hour of Grace last December 8 held at the Parish Church at 12NN. The monthly devotion is organized and attended by the leaders and members of the Parish SKK (Saradit na Kristiyanong Komunidad). (Photos by: Natalie Hazel Quimlat, MD)