Filipino Cardinals: Cross a message of hope, compassion

Metro Manila, Philippines - On Good Friday, Filipino Cardinals preached to the Catholic faithful that the image of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion brings a message of hope and compassion.

At the Manila Cathedral in Intramuros, Manila Archbishop Jose Cardinal Advincula said the Cross is a symbol of love and hope, an invitation for repentance, and a way to resurrection.

“Ang krus ay hindi simbolo ng pagkatalo kung hindi tagumpay ng tunay na pag-ibig,” Advincula said. “Sa krus isinakripisyo ni Kristo ang kanyang sarili hindi upang makita ang kapangyarihan kung hindi upang ipadama ang walang hanggang pagmamahal sa atin.”

[Translation: The cross is not a symbol of loss but of victory of true love. Christ sacrificed himself on the cross not to show his power but to let us feel his eternal love for us.]

The archbishop also told the story of a drug addict who went under the Sanlakbay Program of Caritas Manila to repair his relationship with his family and God, and start his life anew.

“Ang Kaniyang habag ay walang hanggan. Ang Kaniyang awa ay palaging handa magbigay sa atin ng panibagong simula,” Advincula said.

[Translation: His mercy is limitless and always ready to give us a new start.]

“Nawa’y sa ating pagninilay ngayon ng mga Mahal na Araw, patuloy tayong kumapit sa pangako ng Diyos, na sa Kaniyang krus matatagpuan natin ang liwanag ng bagong buhay,” he said.

[Translation: I hope in our reflection during the Holy Week, we continue to hold on God’s promise that in his Cross we will see the light of the new life.]

Meanwhile, Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David centered on how sometimes people forget that the image of Jesus’ crucifixion is violent and cruel.

In his homily, David said the Cross teaches those who look at it to be compassionate.

He asked devotees not to get used to scenes of violence, including extrajudicial killings during the bloody war on drugs, and the Israel-Palestine conflict, which saw thousands of killings in Gaza.

The Duterte’s administration anti-drug campaign killed at least 6,000 drug suspects, mostly poor Filipinos.

“Namamatay ang ating pagkatao kapag namamanhid ang ating konsensya,” David said.

[Translation: Our being dies once our conscience becomes hardened.

“Kaya parang awa na ninyo, huwag tayong masanay. Hayaan natin na ang krus ay gumising sa atin, na ang krus ang gumalaw, humaplos sa ating mga puso,” he said. “Hayaan natin na ang krus na gumimbal sa atin, hayaan natin ang krus na maglitas sa ating pagkatao.”

[Translation: Let us not get used to it. Let the Cross awaken us, move us and touch our hearts. Let the Cross startle us and save our humanity.]