News—"It is only when we see Christ through our hearts that our Valentine (celebration) can be meaningful," says SVD Farm exec director Fr. Sam Agcaracar, SVD, in Valentine eve homily
Tagaytay City—In a thought-provoking and heartfelt homily during the "Harana sa Hapag ng Pag-Ibig" Valentine eve celebration at the SVD Laudato Si' Farm, Rev. Fr. Samuel "Sam" Naceno-Agcaracar, SVD, Executive Director of the SVD Farm and Rector of the SVD Tagaytay Community challenged attending couples to open their hearts to God, drawing from his own life of faith and acknowledging the struggles he faces in his relationship with Christ.
The Holy Mass, which was presided over by Fr. Sam at 5:00 PM at the Chapel of the Virgin of the Poor, was followed by the program proper at the St. Peter Fishpond and Gazebo.
Fr. Sam began his homily by expressing gratitude for the presence of the attendees and highlighting the significance of the Gospel reading in inspiring reflection. In his homily, he emphasized the importance of keeping in mind the upcoming Lenten season. He further delved into the challenges faced by Jesus' disciples, emphasizing their hardened hearts and insecurities.
"For me, it is a challenge to go back and look back as we enter the Lenten season, to be more comprehending, more aware and sensitive to the many good things that I received from God compared to the many little things that I face every day," Fr. Sam said, encouraging the attending couples to shift their focus from complaints to gratitude as they live their lives of love.
Addressing the theme of Valentine's Day, Fr. Sam urged the attendees to understand the goodness of God and the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. He emphasized the importance of opening one's heart to God to truly comprehend His presence in our lives.
"As we proceed with our Mass, let's try to examine our hearts. What are our hearts beating for? Are our hearts beating for Christ, to understand Christ more and more in our lives? Or are they beating for something else, for somewhere else?" Fr. Sam questioned, challenging everyone to reflect on the true desires of their hearts.
In a vulnerable moment, Fr. Sam shared, "I can say I'm still in love with Christ, but sometimes my love story with Christ is also painted by my selfishness, my insecurities, my pride, and many other things."
Fr. Sam concluded his homily by inspiring the gathering to look into their hearts, reminding them that a meaningful Valentine celebration stems from seeing Christ through their hearts. "Let us inspire one another to look into our hearts because it is only when we see Christ through our hearts that our Valentine (celebration) can be meaningful," he said, leaving the attending couples with a challenge to deepen their spiritual connections.
Fr. Sam's homily became a poignant moment during the celebration, resonating with the couples present and reinforcing the overarching theme of love, faith, and introspection at the "Harana sa Hapag ng Pag-Ibig" event.
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