"Teofilo, before he is the lover of God, is first beloved of God. The moment he discovered this gift that God is in our heart, it was natural that he eventually had to be the conduit. Today's gospel "Gifted to Give" is a beautiful summary of his very life and mission."

𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐋 𝐓𝐄𝐗𝐓 of Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Midyphil “Dodong” Billones' homily during the holy mass in commemoration of the 107th birthday of the late Archbishop Teofilo Camomot, delivered 3 March 2021 at the Santa Teresa de Avila Chapel, Valladolid, Carcar City.

---

Sa atong hinigugma nga mga pari, headed by Msgr. Jojo and Msgr. Ruben, especially the kinsfolk of our beloved Archbishop Lolong, our beloved sisters, devotees, representatives of our benefactors especially the Gullas family, mga hinigugmang igsuon kay Kristo, maayong buntag kaninyong tanan.

There are two important days in the life of man: the day that he is born, and second, the day that he finds out ‘why’. This quotation from Mark Twain, although attributed to many other writers, is very enigmatic and powerful. Because gi-highlight niya ang duha ka punto sa atong kinabuhi nga labing importante. Naay duha nga labing importante nga adlaw: katong adlawa nga kita gipanganak ug katong adlawa nga masabtan nato kung ngano man nga gianak kita – the why. Pwede nato kining matawag ang una – biological birth ug ang ikaduha, mao ang existential birth. Of course, ang biological birth labing importante, not only for our record-keeping purposes. Importante gyud nga mahibaw-an sa tanan nga ikaw tinuod nga tawo, dili alien, kung ma-trace ang adlaw kanus-a ka gipanganak. And most often, kana gibutang nato in all our legal documents, wherever we go, ang date of birth - the moment that you begin to emerge as a new life form, God’s masterpiece on this earth.

Kitang tanan malipayon nga nagatigom sa kaadlawan sa atoang pinalangga nga Archbishop Lolong. He was born on this day. Ingon nila, when a baby laughs, angels cheer in heaven! Dako ang kalipay sa langit ug sa yuta sa usa ka tawo nga gipanganak. Ika-107th birthday niya karon. Kitang tanan nga [magtutuo] nga sugboanon, we Cebuano believers, mapinasalamaton sa Mahal nga Dios, sa atoang Servant of God – and he is part of our living tradition as the local church of Cebu.

Pero kauban niining sentiment sa gratitude for his day of birth, importante pod nga atong madiskubre ang iyahang second most important day, meaning ang iyahang existential birth – the WHY of his life. Honestly speaking, as I study and pray over his life, it is difficult to pinpoint a particular date for him discovering the why of his life. I believe, however, it is a growing, converging realization. But in my humble opinion, the moment that this was focalized, was his ordination to the priesthood. For a priest who gives his total yes, it is only because of a deep awareness that I am deeply loved even despite my sinfulness. [Usbon] nako, ang usa ka pari nga nag-OO sa Mahal nga Dios sa ordinasyon, to give everything, and every part of his life for God can only come from a heart convinced that I am deeply loved even though I don’t deserve it. The mission naturally flows from here. I’m sure atong mga igsuong mga pari would understand this in a very powerful way.

Teofilo – before he is the lover of God, which iyang ngalan mao kana ang meaning, is first beloved of God. The moment he discovered this gift that God is in our heart, it was natural that he eventually had to be the conduit, ang dalan, sa paghigugma sa Mahal nga Dios. In his shepherding in Cebu, Jaro, Cagayan de Oro and back to Cebu, his passion is to give away this love in whatever way he can. Feeling ko kining tema nga Gifted to Give is a beautiful summary of his very life and mission. Mao kini iyang existential birth and purpose. Wala pa man kini mabuhat kini nga tema, karon pa lang. Pero sa mga linggwahe sa mga millennials, swak na swak ang Gifted to Give - if you want to look for a phrase to summarize the life and mission of Archbishop Camomot.

Mga hinigugma, ang Ginoo anaa sa imohang kasingkasing. God is in your heart. Daw ka obvious man kini. But sa tinuod, this most simple declaration hides the most powerful truth: that the God we seek is actually closer than we can ever imagine. Naay tendency to look for God in the external. There is this story that a mystic and God had a conversation: the mystic complained that God is so hard to find: he said, others go to the desert to seek you, others to the temples, to the top of the mountains and churches, others to pilgrimage sites but they cannot find God’s care. Others in the theological schools and others in emotional retreats. And yet they acquire knowledge of the love but fail to encounter that love. “How frustrating this is O Lord!” Mao kana ang complain o reklamo sa mystic kang Lord sa iyang prayer conversation. Ang tubag sa mahal nga Dios, “My child, don’t look too far away. Be still, bow you head, and close your eyes: then you will truly see, I have been always inside your heart.”

Mao kini, if you ask me, the amazing realization that God is in my heart, nga gitudlo kanato nga part sa legacy teaching ni Archbishop Camomot - nga kanindot nga atong i-reappreciate, because he is teaching the most obvious, but often hidden truth. I believe that this conviction revolutionized the life of Teofilo the lover of God, when he found God inside his heart. When his biological birth converged with existential birth, it resulted in a heart consumed on fire with zeal, ‘zelus zelatus sum’. Finding God loving him, his whole nature, existence became driven by this purpose – to spread this love that he has found inside his heart. It naturally evolved into giving. Gitawag kini sa scriptures, self-donation.

Usahay, we only remember the word ‘donation’ as something nga gihatag nato nga hinabang. But actually, ang iyang root word sa latin ‘donum’ means ‘gift’. And if you use the verb ‘donare’, it becomes ‘the act of giving’. Ang spirituality of self-donation, mao kini ang Ebanghelyo karong adlawa. Ang atong Ginoo, He came to this earth para ihatag Iyang kinabuhi para sa atoang kaluwasan. The movement of God, he was educating his apostles, would be ‘Do not cling to position. Do not cling to power. Do not cling to prestige. Rather, let go. Give your all. You have been gifted by love. Now, donate yourself as a gift of love to others’.

Mga hinigugma, mao kini ang self-donating movement, a movement that flowed from the heart of Christ. And this was continued by our beloved Archbishop Camomot. This self-donating love made it natural for him that even when he pawns his own ring, even ginatonto na siya sa uban pero mutabang man sad gihapon, even when travelling fourth class kay para may matabang siya sa uban, si Archbishop Lolong gives and gives and gives.

This is self-donating rhythm. Tanan kita, pari man, layko, o religious, we are now exhorted to continue this rhythm. Gifted to give, self-donating rhythm is the long, life story of Archbishop Camomot. Kaanindot nga sa atoang pagsaulog o pag-celebrate sa atong 500 Year of Christianity nga ang tema Gifted to Give, naa gayod beautiful nga synchronicity sa meaning ug dynamic movement of self-donation.

The gift [Archbishop Camomot] received, he knew is best reciprocated by giving it to others. When you think of him, you would immediately think of self-donating love. Born as the lover of God, he lived his life leading others to experience the love of God. And as we are convinced that we are gifted in love, then we are also urged to give this away to others.

Di ba kung ma-fall in love mo, you become generous. Maskin mahurot na imo allowance, ihatag mo sa imong hinigugma. Sa mga parents nga naa dinhi, you would work and sacrifice very hard for your family. Mao man kini ang self-donating love nga ginaawhag sa atoa sa atong pinalangga nga Archbishop Lolong.

So today, we celebrate his birthday. Pero hinaot unta dili lang iyahang biological birth, let us also pay attention to his existential birth, or spiritual birth if you would like to call it – the WHY of his life that is gifted to give. For us all who are devoted to him, mga hinigugma, even those joining us via live streaming, may we also become modern day Teofilo and Teofila – lovers of God. Like him, may we find meaning in entering the self-donating rhythm, that started from Christ. Like him, may we find a purpose-driven life when we learn to acknowledge our giftedness and our decision to gift if away to others especially who need it. When we do this, we celebrate not only the biological birth but also the existential birth of Archbishop Lolong.

So help us God.