Don't Quit! Solo Dios basta!

Homily of H.E. Most Rev. Pablo Virgilio S. David, D.D.

Bishop of Kalookan and President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines

July 14, 2025 | Minor Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

8th Day of Novena in Honor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel

My dear brothers and sisters in the Lord:

Magandang gabi po sa inyong lahat!

Those of you who know me probably also know that I have a daily habit of taking coffee with Jesus. That is how I call my morning prayer, especially when I have to deliver a homily. Because I know you did not come here to listen to me. You don't come to church to listen to the words of the priest. You come to church to listen to God’s word, and you make an act of faith that you can hear God’s word being delivered by the priest. That’s why you need to pray for us, and we also need to pray ourselves before we can say anything sensible to you that comes from the Lord.

So, in my early morning coffee with Jesus, as I was reflecting on the readings for today, one line from a poem whose author is not known, came to mind. I think some of you might know this poem. It is entitled, “Don't Quit”. It is for people who are tempted to give up. The poem says, “Don't quit.” The first verse says,

“When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,

when the road you're trudging seems all uphill,

when the funds are low and the debts are high,

and you want to smile but you have to sigh…

rest if you must, but don't you quit.”

You know? These words capture the spirit of perseverance. A theme that beautifully aligns with our readings for this Novena Mass and the Carmelite spirituality we celebrate. You are preparing for the Feast of Our Lady of Carmel. Even our Responsorial Psalm today from Psalm 124:1b-3, 4-6, 7-8 is consistent with this theme. It speaks of the feeling of being overwhelmed, as if drowning in raging waters.

Imagine yourselves in the position of those who were suddenly overtaken by the floods of the Guadalupe River in Texas. Can you imagine waking up in the middle of the night inside your house, already floating and being swept away in the dark. It's a feeling that we can all relate to, especially when we are faced with life’s adversities.

In the First Reading from Exodus 1:8-14, 22, we hear of the Israelite people being oppressed by a new king who does not know Joseph. They are forced into harsh labor, and their very existence is being threatened. Their sense of being overwhelmed and facing adversity is also mirrored in the Gospel reading (Matthew 10:34—11:1), where Jesus tells His disciples that following Him will not always bring peace in the worldly sense. Sometimes, it may bring division, struggle, and conflicts. Yet, it is in these moments of opposition that we are called to deeper faith and trust in God.

The psalmist is using the imagery of being like a bird. Like a bird caught in a snare, (isang ibon na nahuli sa bitag), but then rejoices that the snare is broken, and the bird is set free. What a beautiful image, like a bird caught in a snare, but the snare is broken, and we are set free. This is a powerful reminder that no matter how overwhelming life’s adversities might be, God's deliverance is always at hand.

In the Gospel, Jesus calls his disciples to take up their cross and follow Him. Assuring them that whoever loses his life for His sake will find it (cf. Mk. 8:34-35). This promise of new life and freedom resonates very deeply with a Carmelite spirituality, which teaches us that through the darkest nights the greatest trials, God leads us to a deeper union with Him.

Carmelite Spirituality

Saint John of the Cross wrote about the “Dark Night of the Soul.” Saint Teresa of Avila herself struggled with many dark nights in her life; and at some point, we're told that she started to complain to God, and she said, “Why are you like that? Why do you allow me to go through so much pain?” The Lord apparently said, “Because you are my friend.” Then she replied, very quickly, “That is why you have so few friends.” “Kaya siguro kakaunti ang kaibigan mo.” (Malakas ang loob ni Teresa of Avila na mag-complain sa Diyos.)

The Carmelite tradition, inspired by the Prophet Elijah, and articulated by mystics like John of the Cross and Teresa of Avila, teaches us that in order to reach the fullness of God, we must always be ready to journey through the path, the road of nothingness. Ang tawag ni San Juan de la Cruz dito ay “El Camino De La Nada”, “Ang landas ng kawalan”.

“The Road of Nothingness” is the road to everything.

“El camino de la nada es el camino al todo para llegar al todo ay que pasar por el camino de la nada,” ang sabi niya sa Espanyol. (The road to nothing is the road to everything, to reach everything you have to go through the road to nothing.) Kung ibig nating makaabot sa lahat-lahat, kailangan dumaan sa landas ng kawalan. “Camino de la nada.” Letting go of all that is not God. It was in that spirit also that Saint Teresa wrote her famous poem, “Nada Te Turbe” (Let nothing perturb you).

It's true, sometimes we panic. Sometimes we're so disturbed by what goes on in the world, or what happens to our families. Saint John of the Cross calls it “an ascent”. Ito ay ang pag-akyat sa Bundok Carmelo. The ascent to Mount Carmel. An ascent that involves facing opposition, enduring trials, and trusting that God alone is enough. Solo Dios basta!

Mary, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, embodies this perfectly. She stood at the foot of the cross unwavering in faith (John 19:25), even in the face of immense sorrow, and seeming nothingness.

Don't Quit. Stay Faithful.

My brothers and sisters, some of you, right this very moment, might be feeling like you are in the dark nights, or burdened by life, worried about your family, tired from injustice, or misunderstanding, or conflicts. Maybe you feel like you have done your best, but are still feeling oppressed by problems you cannot control. Well, God's message for you this evening is this: don't quit. Don't quit. Stay faithful. Keep your heart open. Persevere in hope. Let God turn the soil of your struggle into the ground of new life. 

So, as we honor Our Lady of Mount Carmel, let us take to heart the lessons from today's readings. When we feel overwhelmed by life's adversities, let us always remember that God is our deliverer. When we face opposition, even from those very close to us, let us trust that in losing our life for Christ, we will find true life and freedom.

May Mary our Mother and Sister, guide us on this journey of faith, teaching us that in God alone, we have everything we need. Solo Dios basta! Let us be inspired by her unwavering faith and courage, trusting that even in the darkest moments, God’s grace is at work, breaking every snare and setting us free.

Transcribed by Joel V. Ocampo

Photos by Minor Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mount Carmel