MEMBERS of the Order of Preachers urged Filipino Catholics to vote for politicians who keep their promises, as they reflected on the “Seven Last Words” on Good Friday at Santo Domingo Church in Quezon City.
Fr. Eugene Cabillon, O.P. warned the faithful against deceitful people, stressing that Filipinos should vote for those who fulfill promises, like Jesus Christ.
“Mas madali ang maging taksil, tuso at tuta, magkakapera ka pa. [W]hen you are faithful to what you promise, you become what you promise. Jesus promised to save us and He fulfilled it. That’s why He is our savior,” he said.
Being faithful to one’s promise is the highest form of freedom, Cabillon said.
“Ito ang pinakamataas na uri ng kalayaan, iyong isuko ang kalayaan mo na iwasan ang mga bagay na salungat sa iyong pangako. Sa darating na eleksiyon, may kalayaan tayong pumili ng ating iboboto. Gamitin mo ang kalayaan na iyan para piliin kung sino ang nararapat, iyong tapat sa pangako,” he added.
Fr. Romulo Rodriguez, O.P., provincial secretary of the Dominican Province in the Philippines, said greed for power breeds unfaithfulness.
“Sometimes we are tempted…we hold on [and] cling to power. May paalala ang Diyos. Hindi lahat ibibigay sa atin so that we will learn how to bend our knees,” he said, reflecting on the fifth of Jesus Christ’s Seven Last Words.
Fr. Enrico Gonzales, O.P., reminded Filipinos that true power lies in God who is omnipotent.
“Saan ninyo ihahabilin ang bayan? Sa mga poon ninyong politiko? Lahat nangako na pagagandahin ang buhay. Humusga kayo, gumanda ba ang buhay? [A]ng ayoko lang mangyari ay susunod kayo sa isang pinuno na hindi niyo malalaman kung masasagip kayo sa kamatayan” he said.
Alluding to President Duterte’s statement that “God is stupid,” Fr. Clarence Marquez, O.P., rector of Colegio de San Juan de Letran, said the Church will remain faithful to her teachings whatever critics say,
“’Ama, patawarin mo sila,’ sapagkat ‘yan ang sinasabi ng Diyos, kahit binabatikos, binabastos, binababoy, nilalapastangan, hindi pinapaniwalaan,” he said reflecting on the first word.
The Seven Last Words or “Siete Palabras” has been organized by the Dominican Province in the Philippines and the Santo Domingo Convent for the past 26 years. It was aired nationwide by GMA Network and Radyo Veritas.
Avoid selfishness, forgive
Fr. Rodel Aligan, O.P., prior of the Priory of St. Thomas Aquinas in UST, called on the faithful to end the culture of pride and vanity pursue the path of forgiveness.
“[Those] wounds have been hurt with countless sins that mankind [has] led to occur. Let us adore him and thank him for atoning for our sins of pride and vanity, and for using His name in vain for all our personal ambitions and gain,” he said in his homily during the commemoration of the Lord’s passion at the Santisimo Rosario Parish.
Good Friday is the second part of the Paschal Triduum, commemorating the passion and crucifixion of Jesus Christ to fulfill God’s promise of salvation.
