(Following is the homily delivered by Most Rev. Julito Cortes, DD, Auxiliary Bishop of Cebu and the Main Presider of the concelebrated Mass during the investiture of USC’s 10th  President, Fr. Dionisio Miranda, SVD, 5 July 2008 at the Rudolf Rahmann Cultural Center.)

(Wisdom 6.9-21: Philippians 2:1-11: Luke 22:1-1-20)

The University of San Carlos, last July 1, celebrated its 60th Anniversary as a University. And in a few moments from now, we shall be installing the 10th President of the University, the Reverend Fr. Dionisio Marcelo Miranda of the Society of Divine Word.

For these two big occasions for the University, then, with emphasis, certainly, on Reverend Father Miranda's new mission, I would like to reflect on two words:
“Open” and “Light”.

Open - this is the word that first came to mind when I went through the readings chosen for today's Mass. And why so?

Open because in the First Reading, the Book of Wisdom challenges us by saying: "desire, therefore, my words; long for them and you shall be instructed." It is the "desire for wisdom," the Book states, that "leads to a kingdom." It is in honoring wisdom that princes, as it were, "may reign as kings forever."

Open because in the Second Reading, St. Paul exhorts us: possess "the same attitude that is also yours in Christ Jesus" who "emptied himself, taking the form of a slave”; who "humbled himself, becoming obedient to death, even to death on a cross."

Open because our Gospel Reading urges us to serve. "Let the greatest among you be as the youngest, and the leader as the servant," Jesus said.

"For who is greater: the one seated at table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at table? I am among you as the one who serves," He said further.

In all these three instances, an attitude of openness is required. There is a need for openness: Openness to the Lord's words and, in the process, become wise; Openness to the Lord's example of emptying and, in the process, be filled; Openness to the Lord's instruction on serving and, in the process, become great according to Christ's standard.

And in openness, I would like to believe, “light” comes – hence, my second word. Light - as in an illumination of the heart and of the mind. And light - as in a sense of buoyancy of the spirit.

In wisdom, in emptying ourselves, in serving others ­our hearts and our minds are illuminated.

Among other things, we realize that only when we are empty can we be filled. And that only when we seek wisdom, humble ourselves and serve others, can we ever find fulfillment in our lives.

In wisdom, in emptying ourselves, in serving others, our spirit, too, becomes buoyant. For having sought wisdom, having emptied ourselves and having served others, nothing is too heavy to bear for the Lord. Problems, sickness and even death become too small a price to pay for the Love of God. Everything is light - and we feel light - because we know that the Lord Jesus is with us and works through us.

As missionaries, I am certain that the SVD Fathers strive to live by this. Hence, Father President, I pray that today God may enrich your presidency with these two words: open and light.

In a meeting with educators in Italy last 2007, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI lamented that "because of modern society's emphasis on moral relativism ... education tends to be broadly reduced to the transmission of specific abilities or capacities for doing, while people endeavour to satisfy the desire for happiness of the new generations by showering them with consumer goods and transitory gratification. Thus, both parents and teachers are easily tempted to abdicate their educational duties and even no longer understand what their role, or rather, the mission entrusted to them, is. Yet, in this way we are not offering to young people, to the young generations, what is our duty to pass on to them. Moreover, we owe them the true values which give life a foundation."

The Holy Father saw therefore a great "educational emergency, the increasing difficulty encountered in transmitting the basic values of life and correct behavior to the new generations, a difficulty that involves both schools and families and ... any other body with educational aims."

Hence, the crucial role of catholic educational institutions, like a catholic university, such as the University of San Carlos.

But the Holy Father himself declared that this is a daunting and difficult task. “We must always be aware that we cannot carry out such a task with our own strength but only with the power of the Spirit. We need enlightenment and grace that come from God and act within hearts and consciences. "

With those observations of the Holy Father as context, let me go back to the two words: Open and Light.

Let us open ourselves to Jesus, to his Inspiration and his Spirit and, in the process, we find ourselves enlightened ­Enlightened as in illumined; and enlightened as in buoyant and ready to serve others.

Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life - there can be no greater wisdom than this. There can be no greater illumination that this.

And with Jesus, nothing is ever heavy. If he can surrender his divinity to share in our humanity; if he can become obedient unto death, even to death on a cross; then, with him, all threats of cynicism and darkness have become lighter.

Jesus, in his lifetime, had two outstanding qualities: First, his capacity for articulation; and, Second, his capacity for smallness.

In word and in deed, Jesus articulated for us the Love of the Father for each one of us. He talked and taught about the Kingdom of God. He healed our sickness, infirmities and sinfulness, and, in the process, showed the Way to the Father.

Then, unprecedented in all human history, he personally washed the feet of his disciples. ­God, as it were, making himself small - a servant, in order to make humanity worthy to receive the gift of the Eucharist. He personally walked through the Way of the Cross and, in the end, he allowed himself to be executed like a common criminal.

Capacity for articulation and capacity for smallness. These are gifts that I believe you already have as a religious and missionary, Father President. But gifts that we pray you will have even more of as you captain this formidable ship, this institution of Catholic education of 60 years, the University of San Carlos, for the next three years.

The capacity for articulation to help you articulate even more effectively and refine even more sharply the vision, mission and corporate goals of the University of San Carlos in the years to come as a mark of your presidency.

The capacity for smallness to allow you to reach out even to the least recognized student or employee in the university; or to suffer through disappointments inside and outside the academic community of San Carlos; capacities which are not possible without being anchored in the Source - our Model of openness and Source of light.

A potent reminder for all of us in the field of evangelization and Christian formation is the following line, again from the Holy Father, taken from the same message to Catholic educators in Italy: "For education and Christian formation, therefore, it is above all prayer and our personal friendship with Jesus that are crucial: only those who know and love Jesus Christ can introduce their brothers and sisters into a living relationship with him."

Thank you, Fr. Rod Salazar, SVD, for ably steering the University for the past six years! Congratulation, Fr. Dionisio Miranda, SVD, the new USC President! Happy 60th Anniversary to the entire USC Family!

Maayong hapon kaninyong tanan!