Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle. RYAN LEAGOGO/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO
AS CATHOLICS around the world prepared to celebrate Easter, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on Saturday night urged the Filipino faithful to search for Jesus amid the many “tombs” of war, corruption and poverty that the materialistic world has created.
In his homily during the Easter vigil Mass at Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Tagle said Easter was also a time to seek the things of God and to stop yearning for unlimited wealth obtained by stealing and cheating, for recognition and for power that will be used only for selfish purposes.
Signs of death
He also warned against the “tombs” or the “many signs of death” plaguing the world, referring not only to physical death due to poverty, hunger and wars but also death of cultures and of profound wisdoms snuffed out by “superficiality and cultures that pretend to be superior.”
“How many people have been enticed to enter pearly gates [the gates to heaven in Revelation 21:21] [that] are really tombs? Tombs of vices, illegal drugs, of corruption. Tombs of abuse of women, children and the helpless, tombs of consumerism, materialism and human trafficking,” Tagle said.
He continued: “All of these [are tombs] but they are presented like they are mansions, promising a good and successful life. Please do not get discouraged.”
“We have to search for Him, we have to see Him and proclaim Him. As guns and bombs make noise in the world, sing your alleluia. Don’t let bombs and the gunfire dominate our alleluia,” Tagle said.
Appeal for unity
In Cotabato City, Archbishop Orlando Quevedo appealed for unity toward peace amid religious differences in the South.
The 77-year-old prelate who is at the forefront of peacemaking efforts in Mindanao and actively pushing for a peace deal with Moro rebel groups said in his Easter message that religious differences have to be set aside for peace to be attained on the war-torn island.
Quevedo said the people of Mindanao should allow their different beliefs to hinder them from becoming friends and working together to live in peace and harmony.
Earlier, Philippine Grand Mufti Abu Huraira Udasan said that good relationship with Christians is as important to Muslims as the Christians’ desire to have friendly relations with Muslims.
Udasan said this was because both Muslims and Christians followed Scriptures that say similar things about enjoining peace, the prohibition of evil deeds like murder and adultery and imbibing intoxicants.
Easter is the most important feast among Christians, coming at the end of the 40 days of Lent to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. With a report from Edwin Fernandez, Inquirer Mindanao