Fr. Carmelo Diola |CDND Photo/ Gerard Vincent Francisco
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Pray like Mary. Be like Mary.
This was the message of Father Carmelo Diola, parish priest of the San Roque Parish in Barangay Mambaling Cebu City, during the fifth Misa de Gallo celebrated in his church on December 20, 2019.
In his homily, Diola urged the faithful to pray and be faithful like the Blessed Virgin Mary on the day she was told that she was going to bear the Son of God.
He said that Mary was young, just 14 years old, when she took the great responsibility God has given her, yet she obeyed humbly to the will of the Lord.
Fr. Carmelo Diola blesses the belen (nativity scene) in his parish church, the San Roque Parish Church in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, during the fifth Misa de Gallo in the parish on Dec. 20, 2019. |CDND Photo/ Gerard Vincent Francisco
With this, the priest reminded the Catholic Christian youths to be obedient to the elders and pay heed to their advice.
“Pamalandungan nato si Maria, iyang pagka maampoon. Kung dili to siya maampoon, basin mausikan lang ang mensahe sa iyaha,” said Diola.
(Let us reflect on Mary’s faith. If she was not prayerful, the message of God may have been wasted on her.)
Diola said youths of today are constantly distracted by technology, with their phones and gadgets, which lead them away from personal relationships.
He urged the youth to take time off from the virtual world and build relationships with their parents and family in real life.
Fr. Carmelo Diola officiates the fifth Misa de Gallo in his parish, the San Roque Parish Church in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, on Dec. 20, 2019. |CDND Photo/ Gerard Vincent Francisco
In this way, the youths will also have a personal relationship with God, which is important to the faith.
The faithful are also reminded by Diola to take time and rest from busy schedule.
“Sobra ta ka busy, usa ni sa stratehiya sa yawa. Kung dili man gani ta makasasala, busy kaayo ta,” he said.
(We are so busy. This is one strategy of the demon. If we may not sin, then we are too busy.)
The priest urged the working faithful to take time off this Christmas and enjoy the holiday with family and in prayer. /elb