Archbishop Palma during the Sieta Palabras. (CDN PHOTO/CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma linked the pope’s Lenten message of “renewal and grace” to the celebration of the Year of the Poor.
In his Easter Vigil message on the evening of the Black Saturday, Palma urged the faithful to reflect on their first encounter with Jesus Christ and renew their commitment to the Lord.
Quoting Pope Francis, Palma said that Lent is “a season of renewal and grace.”
“It is also my prayer that all of us may experience a wonderful renewal, especially as we celebrate the Year of the Poor,” he added.
On his part, Palma said that once he is able to reflect on his first encounter with the Lord, he will renew his commitment as priest and bishop.
“I renew my commitment to reach out, especially to the poor, my commitment to proclaim the good news, to try to be holy and loving, and to bring (God’s) mercy and compassion,” said Palma.
Palma said that this experience can be likened to when the Angel at the tomb told the three women who were seeking the Christ, to go back to Galilee and look for Him there.
What then was the significance of Galilee in the lives of Jesus Christ and His disciples?
“Galilee is where they (disciples) first encountered Jesus. It is where they decided to follow the Lord. It is where they were inspired because they heard Jesus preaching around Galilee. Around Galilee, the disciples saw how Jesus worked, especially in the midst of the poor,” Palma said to the congregation at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral last Saturday evening.
The prelate said that it is his prayer that each one in the community will be able to go back to their respective “Galilees” and reflect on their first encounter with the Lord.
In the next seven weeks or 49 days leading to Pentecost, different scenes depicting Christ’s resurrection will be reflected on in church.
Palma said he hopes that the church will be constantly reminded to “go back” and reflect, be inspired and eventually renew their commitment to the Lord.
The Church celebrates Pentecost, or the descent of the Holy Spirit, seven weeks after the resurrection of Christ.
In his homily, the archbishop exhorted the faithful to celebrate Christ’s resurrection.
He also urged them to be faithful amidst all the trials and harsh experiences of life.
“The women who went to the tomb were afraid, but the Angel told them not to be. In other versions, they are told to ‘have faith,’” said Palma.
Just as the women were told to believe, the Catholic community should also firmly believe that despite problems in the family, physical ailments, and many trials, God will not abandon them.
Toward the end of the Mass, the congregation raised lit candles, renewed their baptismal vows and reaffirmed their faith in Christ.
The Mass centered on the blessing of fire and water, which commemorates Christ’s passing from death to life.