Living a holy life doesn’t only mean resisting the temptation to sin but to do good to others especially the poor, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma said yesterday.
Speaking to over 400 participants in yesterday’s Lenten recollection at the San Pedro Calungsod Chapel at the South Road Properties (SRP), Palma encouraged them to commune with the poor and to end the culture of indifference towards the less fortunate.
Palma quoted Pope Francis in saying he doesn’t believe in charity that doesn’t “hurt” and that it’s not enough to just give money or food.
Plight
“We should eat with the poor. We should sit down and share food together. This gesture is a reminder that we are one, big family in Christ,” Palma said.
“Poverty has many faces and names. We need to be sensitive to the needs of other people. Let us not ignore them,” Palma said.
The 65-year-old prelate reminded the audience of the story of Dives, the rich man in the Scriptures who didn’t violate the 10 commandments but did nothing to help Lazarus, the poor man who lived outside his home.
“He ended up in Hades (hell),” he added.
On Tuesday, during the Chrism Mass with the clergy of Cebu, the archbishop is set to deliver a message on how priests in the Archdiocese of Cebu can help the poor in concrete ways.
Palma earlier instructed priests to organize mass weddings and mass baptism without charging a fee for the service.
“If there are volunteer lawyers who do legal aid for free, why can’t we priests do it as well for God’s flock?,” he said.
Palma shared light moments in his message, cracking jokes.
He also presided over the Mass to cap the event.
Among those who attended the recollection were Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, policemen, and parish-based groups.