Introduction

 
We as one San Vicente Institute of Solana Family together with the Parishioners of
Saint Vincent Ferrer Parish of Solana are here today to give thanks to the Lord by
celebrating this Eucharist. Mindful of the fact that no human prayer suffices, we then
have recourse to the Offering that our Lord Jesus Christ left us and unite into His prayer
our own prayers.
In a special way, we make our Offering to Jesus imploring the powerful intercession
of our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Piat, Yena tam ngamin. Dear Lady of Piat, as you
grant our petitions, bring us closer to Jesus. Make us love him more and more.
In order to be less unworthy in celebrating this Eucharist, let us then recall to mind
our sins and ask the Lord for his pardon and mercy.
 
1. Although life I beautiful, it is not nonetheless immuned from the difficulties and cares
of everyday human existence. We have to work in order to live. And in working, we
often feel weary and burdened. We grow tired from the toil of human labour and are
exhausted by the seemingly cumbersome routine of our daily life.
2. The Lord knows our difficulties. The Lord is aware of our burdens and pains. It is for
this reason that in our Gospel today he says, “Come to me all you who labour and
are burdened and I will give you rest.”
3. What does this mean? “Come to me”, the Lord says. Halika. Umay ka. In asking us to
come to him, the Lord does not actually remove the burdens of life. Rather he invites
us to carry our burdens together with HIM. He rather says, “Halika buhatin natin ang
Krus. Halika, sasamahan kita sa pagbuhat ng Krus.”
4. So that in carrying our burdens WITH HIM, He may transform these OUR burdens
into SACRIFICE. We carry life’s burdens in view of Heaven. We Carry life’s crosses
in view of Jesus. Come to me, he says. “TO ME”, meaning to say the goal is towards
JESUS. We orient our life to Jesus. We focus on Jesus. We never lose sight of
Jesus. Dahil kapag alam mong ang ginagawa mo ay parang kay Hesus, hindi ka
magdadalawang isip na gawin ang lahat ng bagay para sa kanya. Lahat ng bagay,
kahit na mahirap. Gagawin mo dahil ito ay para kay Hesus. To sacrifice is to carry
our burdens in order to be transformed to Jesus.
5. But life is not an endless struggle to the point that we are enslaved by the work we do
everyday. We work in view of Heaven. Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.
6. The sacrifices that we have to endure in life are nothing compared to the joy that the
Lord will reward us. When the Lord says, “Come to me all you who labor and are
burdened”, he likewise promises, “And I will give you rest.” And this is what makes
life’s struggles and difficulties worth enduring for: because God will give us rest. And
what does that rest mean? It means a life WITH HIM.
7. This is what makes our journey here on earth wonderful. It is wonderful because we
are journeying TOWARDS JESUS. Life is a beautiful Journey because we are
marching TOWARDS GOD. Napakaganda mabuhay kung alam mong araw-araw ay
isang paglalakbay pauwi sa Panginoon, kapag alam mong bawat yugto ng iyong
buhay ay isang hakbang papalit ng papalit sa PANGINOON.
8. Dear Lady of Piat, at the wedding feast at Cana, you said to the servants “DO
whatever JESUS Tells you”. Many times we also grow weary in doing what Jesus
 tells us. Or we are at a lost in deciphering what really is Jesus telling us to do. We
are burdened because what we do fail to give us contentment and happiness. Like a
mother who reigns her child in order to keep him from going astray, pull us back
close to you. For beside you, we are made closer to Jesus. For Jesus is just right
beside you.