Dawn masses: Faithful urged to share the light, build bridges

MANILA, Philippines — On the first day of the nine-day Simbang Gabi or the traditional Filipino dawn masses before Christmas, two leaders of the Catholic Church in the country called on the faithful to “share the light” and to “build bridges instead of walls and fences.”

In his homily at the Manila Cathedral yesterday, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula likened the Christmas lights, parols and chandeliers filling the churches amid the dark dawn sky to the “light” of Jesus, which is symbolized by the love for neighbor, hope and peace, permeating a “dark” world surrounded by grief, poverty, divisions and conflicts, including in politics.

“In our experience, what is the cause of darkness in people’s lives? Greediness, self-centeredness, numbness, indifference and the deafness of our hearts for the needs of others,” he said.

He added some people would choose to live in darkness “because no one can see and catch them; they hide, they conceal the truth, they live alone and do not care.”

“Poverty exists in this world because many are selfish,” he stressed, appealing to the mass goers to “be the light like Jesus.”

“We (should) go beyond our greed. It is a season of gifts. We should not offer leftovers; we should also offer ourselves. We can become the light for others when we are faithful in our relationships, honest at work and in service and loving in our dealings with others,” he explained.

He added that God will provide light and joy to people’s lives if they experience darkness.

On the other hand, in his homily at San Roque Cathedral in Kalookan City yesterday, Bishop of Kalookan Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David reflected on the words of the prophet Isaiah, with the message focused on inclusion in his sermon.

“If others say that only the holy should worship God, it means that he is only pretending to be holy. The Church is open for all – young people, single parents, married, annulled, divorced, those who wear shoes, slippers or none at all, men, women, gay, lesbian, educated or not, the good, the stubborn, old people, children – all are welcome to Our Lord,” proclaimed David.

He also talked about inclusion using the metaphor of subdivisions, as well as houses inside them with walls and fences.

“If we are afraid or doubtful, we think that we might be robbed or hurt. We will always build fences. We will separate ourselves from the community and we will find it difficult to build one,” the newly installed cardinal explained.

Like Jesus who links man to God, David urged the faithful to “serve as bridges that connect and tear down fences caused by politics and differences.” — Mark Ernest Villeza