Funeral Homily

Homily from Monte Agudo

By Rev. Fr. Rafael Cabarles, OAR

This homily was delivered during the Mass at the wake of former City Mayor Rogelio R. Debulgado 

in his residence on March 9, 2012. 

                Once there was a lady who has a pet bird-a talking and singin Mayna. Now, we are like this Mayna who stops talking and singing because we feel sad at this moment. We have come to share the sorrow of the Debulgado Family, all the Recollects Family, Priests, SARF, Faculty, AR Sisters, our Children's Choir, to express our sympathy and support in their grief and loss.

            Our sadness at this moment must have a reason. Sadness is the fruit of love. We feel sad because somebody whom we love in life has gone away. Yes, our life is full of goodbyes, but this one is the hardest to accept. Even people of deep faith find it hard to stare at the face of death.

                Dead men are like bridges. Every day, we cross the river through the bridge. Many times, we take the bridge for granted-how important and how precious that bridge is. Then one day, the flood washed out the bridge and that is when we realized how special that bridge is to us, such is the case of our Big Brother Roger.

                Yes, death brings us sadness, beyond any word could describe. Often times we question the Lord: Why Lord! Why do we have so much pain? Do you still love us, Lord? Do you not hear us, Lord? Are you blind, and deaf, that you don't see us sobbing and crying?

                Brothers and sisters, in this time of sadness our Mother Church comes to aid us. God is a paradox. If you are in a good situation, He disturbs you, and if you are in sorrow, He consoles you. The truth about suffering is that it is not so much a problem but a mystery. Suffering is a mystery and only faith can solve it. Faith is saying 'yes' to immortality. For the Lord's faithful people, "life is changed but not ended." Those who died in Christ have entered life which is fuller, more glorious than we have ever experienced. It is in dying that we are born to external life. Living and dying are not the great opposites the world has us to believe. Rather, they are two sides of the same mystery of God's love. Death opens the door to the fullness of life. death is the greatest of love because it leads us back to the external embrace of God, who created us, whose love is everlasting.

                Today is a day of tears, sorrow, and joy because we lost a man who was a good friend and father to thousands of people in our city. His big heart had a room for everyone. We shed tears because there is sacredness in tears. They are not mark of weakness but power. Tears are messenger of grief, deep contrition, and unspeakable love. Joy because we know that deep down, Roger's life was complete. He was ready for God. The tears that streamed from our faces are sign of joy. Joy because God, in his love and mercy, had taken Roger away from us and thus putting an end to his earthly suffering. In peace, the ever loving Roger tiptoed in silence and walked safely home to God, his Creator.

                What he was in life, Roger remains in death. He was a simple person, and was open to everyone, particularly, to the power of God. Perhaps that was the secret of his life, like the Blessed Virgin Mary. Roger possessed a faithful obedience: Matuman ang imong pagbuot, Ginoo.

                Roger, you are remembered, not because of your projects, not how big a campfire you build but how you keep others warm. How well you illuminated the night to make people feel safe, and how beautiful you left the campsite for those who would come after you to build the next fire. Our Big Brother Roger was a precious jewel. He was taken by the Lord to his very own. See him with the eyes of faith and you will realize that he is better off now than any of us. Roger is where he belongs. The King of Kings has found our jewel and He brought Roger to His heavenly mansions. We should not weep but rejoice.