Homily during the Funeral Mass for Br. Lamberto L. Pasión, OP

Homily during the Funeral Mass for Br. Lamberto L. Pasión, OP
Fr. Rodel E. Aligan, OP (26 March 2021)

The first time I met Fr. Pasion was when I was a first year Theology student. He was teaching Divine Revelation. But my revelation of him was that he spoke good English with an American accent and twang. 

My next encounter of him was when I was Prior of [UST] almost two decades ago. Fr. Ernesto M. Arceo, OP was the Prior Provincial [then], and issued his famous “shape up or ship out” decree to our Filipino brothers who were having their ministries in the United States, and that he asked them to come back and be integrated into the Province. That included Fr. Pasión, who told me that when he came back, he was mad at the [Prior] Provincial, but as a Dominican he obeyed. As a Dominican, Fr. Pasión obeyed.

The Dominicans profess only one vow explicitly: Obedience. The Constitution of the Order explains that this practice arises from the example of St. Dominic [de Guzman], who both required and gave obedience when due, and from the Order’s essential goal of unity in charity: “if a community is to remain true to its spirit and its mission, it needs that unity achieved through obedience.” 

Obedience is at root a positive act, a supreme act of freedom. Obedience is the renunciation of self-direction, self-will, a concrete and determining expression of the desire directed by God, to follow His will, and concretely many times, through [one’s] superior. Nowadays in pandemic and post-modern times, obedience conquers the vices of individualism, pride and self-centeredness, so that charity and freedom will flourish. 

I am sure, Fr. Pasión was obedient until death enduring suffering during his lingering illness. I am sure, this coming Holy Week, he is already celebrating Easter with the Lord. We are asking him therefore to intercede for us in the presence of God.