Peace and the Cross

[A homily on the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross on the occasion of the University Day of Peace of the Central Mindanao University in Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon (September 14, 2012)]

The talent show, X Factor, in Australia had an interesting contestant during last year’s season. Emmanuel Kelly, like his brother Ahmed, was born in a war zone in Iraq with no birth certificate or any documentation to prove their identity. They were found in a Baghdad park in a shoe box by nuns who, in turn, brought them to an orphanage. Eventually, they were adopted by Moira Kelly, an Australian lady who is the boss of Children First Foundation, who brought them to Australia for surgery. Both children suffered from limb deficiencies as a result of chemical warfare. After such quick background presentation, the now teenager Emmanuel auditioned in the X Factor Australia and sung his heart out by rendering John Lennon’s “Imagine,” winning the hearts of the crowd and constraining many to reach for their tissues to wipe their tears while listening to this boy who, behind his incredible story, has an amazing, awe-inspiring voice.

Today, the Catholic Church throughout the world celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross and, at the same time, Central Mindanao University celebrates its University Day of Peace, in conjunction with the United Nations’ observance of the International Day of Peace on September 21, 2012. Is there a relationship between peace and the cross?

Holy Cross High School 2011 Grand Homecoming

“AND THE CHILD GREW AND BECAME STRONG, FILLED WITH WISDOM; AND THE FAVOR OF GOD WAS UPON HIM” (LK 2:40). The reason I’m standing here right now is a text message I received yesterday telling me to prepare a 5-minute sharing during today’s celebration, to which I replied, “OK”! It was Fr. Dhems. Feeling a bit nervous about it, I decided to put this into writing because I know it would not be easy to speak before fellow alumni and alumnae, not to mention the fact that it’s my first time to attend a homecoming.

   For those of you who don’t know me, I am Oliver Orlasan Verdejo, a 1993 alumnus of Holy Cross High School and the school’s first recipient of the Alfonso Yap Award for National Discipline. Quite an honor, right? I was told my photo appeared together with the other awardees on a national paper, which I did not see. But you know? Now I think, to receive that award was too good to be true. It took me all these years from my high school till now to really begin to understand what “discipline” really is all about. My life, perhaps similar to yours, is not only full of glorious “ups”, but it is also full of painful “downs”. Interestingly, it was not the former that became my best teacher. It was my “down moments” that best taught me self-discipline, taught me some wisdom about life. My life has been a journey from self-centeredness to God-centeredness, from seeking myself to seeking