MANILA Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle washed the feet of migrants and refugees, including Fr. Chito Soganub, the priest abducted by terrorists in the Marawi siege, in this year’s Maundy Thursday rites at the Manila Cathedral.
Soganub, former vicar general of the Prelature of Marawi City, was held hostage by the Maute group for four months and was rescued by military forces in September.
Among the 12 people, representing the 12 apostles of Jesus Christ, whose feet were washed by the cardinal were Isidro Indao and Kaylo Bontolan, leaders of the Lumad minority group, who fled their homes due to alleged militarization of their lands.
Also, the parents of slain overseas Filipino worker in Kuwait Joanna Demafelis, who was murdered and was found dead in a freezer.
Tagle washes the feet of migrants and refugees as part of the rites of the Mass of the Lord's Supper. #MaundyThursday pic.twitter.com/0rFG4STuy2
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In his homily, Tagle spoke against the obsession for power and how it prevents a person from loving freely, citing Jesus’ servant-type of leadership when he washed the feet of his disciples during the Last Supper.
“Kapag ikaw ay nasa taas, ayaw mo nang lumisan. Lahat ay gagawin mo para manatili riyan. Pero si Hesus ay lumilisan sa isang katayuan at binabago ang kalakaran, hinugasan ang inyong mga paa bilang lingkod,” he said.
The cardinal said a person must depart from himself to be of service to others.
“Ang pag-ibig ay walang katapusang paglisan at pag-alis [mula] sa sarili. Ang hindi handang tumawid at umalis, hindi marunong magmahal,” he said.
The archbishop of Manila urged Catholics to heed Pope Francis’ call to “accompany” migrants and refugees and hear their stories.
“Kilalanin [natin] sila. Hawakan ang mga kamay. Pakinggan ang kanilang mga kuwento, at baka matuklasan natin [na] hindi sila iba sa atin. [N]ais po nating ipaalam sa buong mundo at sa ating mga sarili na sa dami ng lumilisan, kasama nila si Hesus at sana kasama rin nila tayo,” Tagle said.
