FILIPINO DOMINICANS gave Catholics a reflection on the “Siete Palabras” or the Seven Last Words of Jesus on Good Friday at Santo Domingo Church.
Now on its 31st edition, the longest-running Lenten program centered on the theme, “Panginoong Hesus, Kaligtasan ng Bayan.”
First: “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”
Fr. Roberto Reyes, O.P., chaplain of the Colegio de San Juan de Letran Manaoag, said the faithful must always choose to forgive even when those who had wronged them won’t seek it.
“Forgiveness is a choice. Kailangan nating piliing magpatawad. Piliin natin na hindi na maningil ng utang o atraso na ginawa sa atin, kahit na masakit sa kalooban natin,” Reyes said.
He added that forgiveness is non-negotiable, as Jesus commanded.
“Habang kumakapit kasi tayo sa sama ng loob, baka hindi tayo makapagdasal nang mabuti. Habang puno ng sakit at galit ang puso natin, binibigyan natin ng daan ang kasamaan at tuluyan nating kinukulong ang kaligayahan at kalayaan,” he said.
Second: “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
Fr. Raymart de Guzman, O.P., priest from the Archdiocese of Manila and member of the Priestly Fraternities of St. Dominic, said heaven is a promised destination reached through constant abstention from sin and holding on to God’s grace.
“May pag-asa na makukuha natin ang langit na abot-kanay natin. Kung pagsusumikapan nating sundin ang kalooban ng Diyos,” de Guzman said in his reflection.
He urged the devotees to let go of the things that steer them away from God, and instead hold on to those that propel them to a life in paradise.
Third: “Woman, behold, your son… Behold, your mother.”
Letran Calamba Rector Fr. Roman Santos, O.P. stressed that Mary is the “mother of all” during his reflection on the third last word.
“Ang mga nanay ang source of unity ng bawat family. Kapag ang nanay ang tumawag sa mga anak upang likumin, pagsama-samahin, upang buklurin. Ganito ang role ng Mahal na Birheng Maria para sa ating lahat,” Santos said.
He added that Mary stood as the mother of all nations and of the Church, as her and Jesus’s biological relationship ended the moment she was entrusted to John, the “son.”
Fourth: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”
Fr. Virgilio Ojoy, O.P., former UST vice rector, said many injustices are human fault, such as the launching of missiles in the Middle East, the election of public officials under investigation for corruption, and the presence of incompetent and uneducated politicians, among others.
“Sino ba ang gumawa ng mga multong flood control projects na sumisira sa mga bahay at buhay ng mga taong nasalanta ng baha? Sino ba ang nagtatanggol sa mga tiwaling opisyal ng gobyerno at humahadlang upang hindi matuloy ang paglilitis sa kanila?” Ojoy, a former associate editor of the Varsitarian, said.
“Nadamay tuloy ang inosenteng mga bata tulad nina Kian de los Santos at Reynaldo de Guzman na marami pa sanang pangarap sa buhay. Marahil habang sila’y nag-aagaw-buhay, naibulong din nila, ‘Diyos ko, Diyos ko, bakit mo ako pinabayaan?’” the priest said.
“Siguro ang dapat nating isigaw ay, ‘Diyos ko, Diyos ko, bakit ko pinabayaan ang aking bayan? Diyos ko, Diyos ko, bakit ko pinabayaan ang aking kapwa tao?” Ojoy concluded.
Fifth: “I thirst.”
Fr. Reynor Munsayac, O.P., executive vice president of Letran Bataan, said Christ’s thirst on the cross was an overflow of love and mercy for his children.
He challenged the faithful to be “soaked” in the waters of justice and accountability to quench the world’s longing for justice, peace, and solutions to social issues such as global conflicts, economic injustice, government corruption, climate change, and neglect of the poor.
“Uhaw din sa katarungan ang mga Pilipinong patuloy na ninanakawan ng mga nasa kapangyarihan. Uhaw ang mga Pilipino na malaman ang katotohanan. Uhaw ang mga Pilipino na panagutin ang mga magnanakaw. Uhaw ang mga Pilipino sa habag ng mga may hawak ng kapangyarihan na ibigay ang nararapat na serbisyo na kanilang dapat matanggap,” Munsayac, promoter of the Dominican Family for Justice, Peace and Care for Creation, said.
He said the thirst of Filipinos for justice can only be quenched by the water of honest leaders who prioritize the welfare of their citizens.
Sixth: “It is finished.”
Fr. Allen de Guzman, O.P. of Santo Domingo Convent emphasized that the Lord always fulfills his promises, for he knows their problems.
“Alam din ng Panginoon kung sino sa atin ang nahihirapan [ngayon]. Struggling with mental health. Struggling with grief. Struggling with frustrations. Struggling with habits na hindi maganda, hindi natin matanggal-tanggal. Some of us are struggling with loneliness. Some of us are struggling with handling multiple responsibilities,” he said.
De Guzman stressed that amid all these hardships, the Lord does not forget his promises and continues to fulfill them.
Seventh: “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.”
Former Santisimo Rosario Parish priest Fr. Eugene Cabillon, O.P. said God’s confidence in the inherent goodness of his children sustains their existence and that they must value and cease abusing them.
“Mula sa krus, bago siya malagutan ng hininga, sinasabi ni Hesus sa ating lahat, ‘Sa iyong mga kamay, iniiwan ko ang aking tiwala; may tiwala ako sa’yo.’ Pinagkakatiwalaan pa rin tayo ng Diyos. Huwag na nating sayangin at abusuhin ang tiwala ng Diyos sa atin,” Cabillon said.
He said Jesus trusts people’s capacity to change, despite their frailty, ignorance and vices.
“Alam ng Diyos na sa kaibuturan ng ating puso ay may binhi ng kabutihan na pag binigyan ng tamang panahon at tamang pagkakataon… Everything and everyone that God created is good. Tayo ay mabubuting mga tao,” Cabillon concluded.
The Good Friday program was hosted by Graduate School of Law Regent Fr. Dexter Austria, O.P. and television actress Dianne Medina. Marigela Isabel R. Cirio, Alexandra Gabrielle C. Mansineros and Yuvshenka Andrea R. Osea
