Philippine Daily Inquirer/News/by Ma. Ceres P. Doyo
SET ASIDE and save up for the hungry poor isang dakot na bigas (a handful of rice) every time you cook. Plant seeds and make them grow into seedlings. Volunteer your services to worthy but hard-up candidates. Give up something for someone in need.
Today, Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of the observance of the 40-day season of Lent when Christendom commemorates the passion and death of Jesus and which culminates in the feast of the Resurrection or Easter Sunday.
Isang dakot na bigas
Sr. Emelina Villegas ICM who lives and works among the poor in Camarin, Novaliches in Quezon City says even the poor have something to offer those who are poorer than they are. “During the Advent season members of the pamayanan (basic ecclesial community or BEC) in our parish decided to set aside isang dakot na bigas every time they cooked rice,” Villegas said. By Christmas time, families in the pamayanan had set aside enough rice savings that were pooled together and shared with the poorest of the poor. “This season of Lent, they decided to again set aside isang dakot na bigas.”
“Fasting is not only fasting from food,” Villegas added. “Abstaining from meat is not really a form of penance for the poor as they can’t afford that. But there are certain practices they said they could abstain from or attitudes they could change. Like tsismisan (gossip), being balat sibuyas (being over-sensitive), pagtatanim (harboring ill-feelings) and mahirap magpatawad (being unforgiving).”
Villegas, former Provincial Superior of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart and who had spent many years serving workers, said Lent involves panalangin (prayer), pagbabagong buhay (renewing one’s life) and pagkakawanggawa (serving others). Today, she said, Ash Wednesday, 21 wooden crosses are going to be blessed and taken to the 21 pamayanan of Camarin. These crosses will be used when the people do the Stations of the Cross.
Toward God and neighbor
Fr. Aris Sison, spokesman of the Diocese of Cubao and parish priest of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary parish (known as Pres. Cory Aquino’s parish) in West Triangle, QC said Christians are often bogged down by external religious practices. “Lent is really a time of conversion and penance,” he said, “and this means turning away from sin and toward God and our neighbor,” Sison said.
“The gospel during Ash Wednesday warns that we make sure that what we do—prayer, fasting and helping others—not be done for show but out love for God and neighbor,” he reminded.
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus says, “When you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted before you…If you give something to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…When you pray, do not be like those who want to be seen…When you fast, do not put on a miserable face…” (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18)
As to the politicians who invoke the name of the poor and advertise their deeds for the poor, Sison said, “We have to check the intention of the heart. Are they doing it for the love of God and the poor or to just get votes? (Their claims) may be valid but I hope they continue after they have gotten the votes. As authentic Christians, were they already doing these in the past?”
Sison said that in his former parish, families saved up for the poor every day by giving up something. “That was during the Jubilee Year 2000. The youngest in the family was tasked to collect the day’s savings . The families were able to save and offer enough to construct two Jubilee homes for the poor. So you see, sacrifice should not be just for the sake of sacrifice.”
Volunteerism
Auxiliary bishop of Manila Broderick Pabillo also stressed prayer, penance and kawanggawa during Lent. These help open people’s hearts to God and to their neighbor. “When they watch less TV it should be in order to prayer more,” he said. “When they give up a movie, it should be to help others.”
Pabillo who heads the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ Commission on Social Action Justice and Peace, added: “Self-denial is not para makilala (to become popular) or advance our selves.” He also suggested a concrete and timely form of Lenten sacrifice during the election campaign period. “Volunteerism, is one way. Volunteer your services to candidates who are worthy but have no money.”
But he warned: “People should be discerning of candidates. Politicians should not use the poor and the poor should not use the politicians. Politicians should show good example by following the laws.” Pabillo was referring to candidates who defied Comelec rules on campaign posters.
This year, Lent is right smack in the campaign season that leads to the May 10 national elections. The Inquirer spoke to some religious leaders who admonished Christians to be creative and do something different as a form of sacrifice. But there were also reminders, for candidates especially, of Jesus’ admonition to not trumpet to the world what they do for the poor.These are some alternative ways in observing Lent suggested by some church persons especially for those who eschew public self-flagellation, crucifixion and other traditional Filipino pietistic practices that are personal in nature. Fasting and penance as a form of personal piety only are not enough.
Today, Ash Wednesday, marks the beginning of the observance of the 40-day season of Lent when Christendom commemorates the passion and death of Jesus and which culminates in the feast of the Resurrection or Easter Sunday.
Isang dakot na bigas
Sr. Emelina Villegas ICM who lives and works among the poor in Camarin, Novaliches in Quezon City says even the poor have something to offer those who are poorer than they are. “During the Advent season members of the pamayanan (basic ecclesial community or BEC) in our parish decided to set aside isang dakot na bigas every time they cooked rice,” Villegas said. By Christmas time, families in the pamayanan had set aside enough rice savings that were pooled together and shared with the poorest of the poor. “This season of Lent, they decided to again set aside isang dakot na bigas.”
“Fasting is not only fasting from food,” Villegas added. “Abstaining from meat is not really a form of penance for the poor as they can’t afford that. But there are certain practices they said they could abstain from or attitudes they could change. Like tsismisan (gossip), being balat sibuyas (being over-sensitive), pagtatanim (harboring ill-feelings) and mahirap magpatawad (being unforgiving).”
Villegas, former Provincial Superior of the Congregation of the Immaculate Heart and who had spent many years serving workers, said Lent involves panalangin (prayer), pagbabagong buhay (renewing one’s life) and pagkakawanggawa (serving others). Today, she said, Ash Wednesday, 21 wooden crosses are going to be blessed and taken to the 21 pamayanan of Camarin. These crosses will be used when the people do the Stations of the Cross.
Toward God and neighbor
Fr. Aris Sison, spokesman of the Diocese of Cubao and parish priest of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary parish (known as Pres. Cory Aquino’s parish) in West Triangle, QC said Christians are often bogged down by external religious practices. “Lent is really a time of conversion and penance,” he said, “and this means turning away from sin and toward God and our neighbor,” Sison said.
“The gospel during Ash Wednesday warns that we make sure that what we do—prayer, fasting and helping others—not be done for show but out love for God and neighbor,” he reminded.
In today’s gospel reading, Jesus says, “When you give something to the poor, do not have it trumpeted before you…If you give something to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing…When you pray, do not be like those who want to be seen…When you fast, do not put on a miserable face…” (Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18)
As to the politicians who invoke the name of the poor and advertise their deeds for the poor, Sison said, “We have to check the intention of the heart. Are they doing it for the love of God and the poor or to just get votes? (Their claims) may be valid but I hope they continue after they have gotten the votes. As authentic Christians, were they already doing these in the past?”
Sison said that in his former parish, families saved up for the poor every day by giving up something. “That was during the Jubilee Year 2000. The youngest in the family was tasked to collect the day’s savings . The families were able to save and offer enough to construct two Jubilee homes for the poor. So you see, sacrifice should not be just for the sake of sacrifice.”
Volunteerism
Auxiliary bishop of Manila Broderick Pabillo also stressed prayer, penance and kawanggawa during Lent. These help open people’s hearts to God and to their neighbor. “When they watch less TV it should be in order to prayer more,” he said. “When they give up a movie, it should be to help others.”
Pabillo who heads the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines’ Commission on Social Action Justice and Peace, added: “Self-denial is not para makilala (to become popular) or advance our selves.” He also suggested a concrete and timely form of Lenten sacrifice during the election campaign period. “Volunteerism, is one way. Volunteer your services to candidates who are worthy but have no money.”
But he warned: “People should be discerning of candidates. Politicians should not use the poor and the poor should not use the politicians. Politicians should show good example by following the laws.” Pabillo was referring to candidates who defied Comelec rules on campaign posters.
Pabillo offered other alternative ways of observing Lent. “Feed hungry children. Serve the community by helping clean up the surroundings.”
Mother Nature
Fr. Jose Dizon whose ministry is among workers in Cavite, said that in one of the parishes he had served, the people gathered seeds and planted them on Ash Wednesday. “They made the seeds grow and by Easter the seeds had turned into seedlings. We had so many. These were later planted on barren places.”
With global warming and climate change causing devastation on planet Earth, Dizon said serving others also includes taking care of Mother Nature.
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