15/05/2026
Homily Transcription by Fr. Dave Concepcion
🕊️ Day 7 of Marian Pilgrimage (May 2026)
🗓️ May 11, 2026
📖 John 15:26-16:4A
📍Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Lourdes, France
Welcome to Lourdes. The readings would remind us that the Lord will always confirm His word. And there's a proverb that says three things you can never hide. You can never hide the sun, the moon, and the truth. Regardless of what you say about them, in the end, they will reveal themselves.
One time, a young man came to me, expressed his disappointment, and said, "Galit na galit ako sa Diyos." Later on, he told his stories, the litany of disappointments. I just listened. And perhaps he was waiting for a reaction, but I did not give him any. And he said, "What can you say, Father?" The only thing I've said is, "That's good." And the more he was disappointed. Sabi niya, "Hindi ba masamang magalit sa Diyos?" Sabi ko sa kanya, "Eh kung masama, bakit ka nagalit?” But I told him, "Can you change the weather if you express your disappointment? Pag umuulan at nagalit ka, tumitigil ba ang ulan? Hindi naman. Pag mainit ang araw at nagalit ka, nagtatago ba ang araw? Hindi rin. Pag nilalamig ka, umiinit ba dahil galit ka? Hindi nagbabago.
Kanina, habang kumakain tayo, mamili ka. Sa ilalim ng araw o sa lilim? Mamili ka. Hindi nagbabago ang sikat ng araw para sa iyo." Huwag mong kakalimutan iyan. The world will never change according to your whims. Don't expect the world to change according to how you feel. And the truth will always prevail, regardless. The world will never change, regardless of how you feel.
If the Lord has told you what you need to hear, regardless of your reaction, the word will remain. The invitation is to accept perhaps our own struggle. Hindi ko alam. Magkaka-edad naman halos tayo. Lumaki tayo sa mga magulang na pinapalo tayo. Nakatikim din kayo, I'm sure. Ngayon kasi bawal nang paluin ang bata. Noong napalo ka. Umiiyak ka. Habang umiiyak ka, kakain na. Walang pakialam ang nanay mo kung umiiyak ka. Kumain ka na. Oh, kain ka pa rin. Hindi nagbabago. Pinapaalala ng magulang. Hindi nagbabago ang mga bagay na dapat tanggapin.
We are now in Lourdes. Five signs that you will find in Lourdes that will never change. The grotto, the water, the candle, the rosary, and the procession. Five things you will find in Lourdes. You will never change the grotto. Even though in the very beginning, it is not what it used to be. It is not as beautiful as before. The water was not as acceptable as before. Bernadette was maligned about it. She was ridiculed. But the Lord testified on her behalf. Whether you like it or not, people hate praying the rosary. It will never change. Lighting the candle. Other denominations would hate it. They call it an occult. Well, it never changes. The procession will never change.
Sabi nga ng hindi Katoliko sa parokya ko, "Kayong mga Katoliko, Father, kung ano-anong kalokohan ang ginagawa ninyo. Bakit ba ang Birhen inaalayan niyo ng bulaklak? Yung estatwa daw." Sabi ko, "Anong pakialam mo? Si Rizal nga inaalayan mo ng bulaklak."Ang mahal na birhen pa kaya? “Eh, bakit niyo pinupunasan?" "Bakit daw pinupunasan naman?” Sabi ko, "Madumi eh." 'Di pinupunasan. Naghahanap ka ng matinong kausap, 'di ako. “Eh, bakit niyo pino-prosesyon?" Sabi ko, "Kung makakapaglakad ba nang mag-isa ‘yan?” Hindi magbabago. Some things will never change. Why? Because God has testified to it. Sa ayaw mo at sa gusto mo, si Maria talaga ang ina ni Hesus. Nakuha po ninyo? Tanggapin nila o hindi, si Maria talaga.
Keep this in mind. You can never hide the truth. Sometimes it will be difficult to defend the truth. But in the end, the truth will always prevail. And for those who live in the truth, God will take delight in you. Kalulugdan ng Diyos ang mga taong nabubuhay sa katotohanan. And I'm sure even though we don't need or our Lady does not need our defense, I'm sure the Son would take delight in the people who would defend, who will make a stand for His mother. I'm sure. Kalulugdan ng Diyos ang mga anak na, sabi nga, ay pinagtatanggol ang kanyang ina kahit hindi kailangang ipagtanggol.
We are here, and you can never deny the many miracles that took place in this place. You can never deny because experience is an experience. It is not just a story. Two years ago, I was struggling with my blood sugar. And the time is here. I told our Lady, "Mama Mary, grabe ang blood sugar ko. Kahit anong gawin. May metformin ka na, may Glyxambi ka na. Mayroon pang isa. Ang taas talaga." And when we came here, the first thing I did after the mass was to drink the water, and I said, "I believe."
Lo and behold, after Lourdes, we went to La Salette. Pagdating sa La Salette, nag-hypo ako. From hyper to hypo. Sabi ni Doc Mila, "Tanggalin mo ang metformin." Hypo pa rin. "Tanggalin mo yung—nakalimutan ko yung isang gamot.” Hypo pa rin. Alam niyo, mas mahirap ang hypo kaysa sa hyper. Kasi pag natulog ang hypo, baka ‘di ka nagigising. Even though gusto kong pumunta sa langit, hindi naman ako nagmamadali. May pilgrimage, eh. Kawawa naman sila, Lord, kung iiwanan ko sila sa pilgrimage.
Anyway, pagdating sa France, ang natira na lang yung Glyxambi. And up to now, controlled. Who can contest that? I cannot deny that. Even the doctors, I mean Doc Mila, could manifest on that. What I'm trying to say, there is always room for doubt. But do not forget, truth is bigger than doubts. Give room for the truth. Because at the end, the truth will always prevail. Hindi masamang magalit sa Diyos. Huwag mo lang kakalimutan, hindi magbabago ang kalooban ng Diyos kahit ano ang iyong nararamdaman. Kahit ano ang iyong paghihinala, pagdududa, the truth will never change.
It is not an accident that you are here. I believe in every place we go, God is saying something to you. You only need to listen. You only need to believe. As St. John of Ark has said, when he was telling the kings about the word of God, the kings during his era would say, "How come God is talking to you and not to us?" And the simple answer was, "God is talking to everyone, but not everyone is listening." For those who listen, I believe you will hear.
Again, you can never hide the truth. Regardless of how you feel, regardless of what you believe, regardless of your disagreement, the truth will prevail. And God speaks to everyone. The problem is that not everyone is listening. And I assure you, if you listen, you will hear.
