Be sorry for sins; reconcile with God, faithful told
As Christians all over the world began the season of Lent yesterday, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma called on the faithful to spend quality time with God and to give up something for the good of others.
“God loves each one of us very much. But many times, we do not reciprocate God’s love. We failed Him many times,” the prelate said in his homily during a Mass in celebration of Ash Wednesday at a chapel inside his residence in Cebu City.
Despite one’s unfaithfulness and indifference, Palma said the Lord continues to love—a characteristic which God cannot do away with.
The best way to celebrate the most holy season of the Catholic Church, he said, is to be sorry for one’s sins, and to be reconciled with God and others.
“Yes, we are sinners. But let us trust in God who is love. He only has mercy and compassion for us. In Him, we are loved,” Palma said.
After his homily, retired Cebu Auxiliary Bishop Antonio Rañola smeared ashes on Palma’s head. In turn, the archbishop also daubed ashes on Rañola’s head as well as on his private secretary, Fr. Mhar Vincent Balili, and Fr. Zenon Guanzon.
Ashes were also placed on the foreheads of the faithful to remind human beings of their origin and destiny and renew the call for repentance.
The ashes used yesterday were made from burnt palm fronds that were blessed during last year’s Palm Sunday.
Catholics, who are 18 to 60 years old, are obliged to fast or to eat less on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, which falls on March 25 this year.
FASTING, ABSTINENCE
Fasting, however, has been relaxed for ailing people.
Fasting refers to eating only one complete meal and two smaller ones.
Also on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays of Lent, Catholics of at least 14 years old are obliged to abstain from eating meat.
Palma explained that fasting and abstinence should be placed within the spiritual context.
“We offer sacrifices to God that we may grow in virtue. We sacrifice even the necessary things we do, and the fruit of this sacrifice should benefit others,” he said.
Aside from fasting and abstinence, the Catholic faithful are also encouraged to give alms to the poor during Lent.
“As a manifestation of love, we should reach out to our less fortunate brothers and sisters. It’s like the healthy parts of the body helping the sick parts,” he said.
SYMPATHY
In an interview after the Mass, Palma expressed sympathy for victims of the 6.4-magnitude earthquake that rocked Taiwan last Saturday.
At least 41 people died and more than 100 people are believed to be still trapped in the debris of an apartment building that collapsed during the earthquake.
In the recently concluded 51st International Eucharistic Congress in Cebu City, Taiwan had the most number of foreign delegates with 427.
“We could never fully understand the mysteries of life. The Philippines too experienced devastation during Supertyphoon Yolanda. Many died and yet our faith kept us going. In the midst of trials, God is there for us,” Palma said.
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