Focus on the gift of faith not colonialism

MANILA (UCAN): The reality of colonial history in the Philippines is painful but it shouldn’t be used as a reason not to celebrate 500 years of Christianity in the country, Archbishop Romulo Valles of Davao, the head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) said while celebrating Mass in Davao City on October 6.

“Our celebration is about journeying, growing, and deepening our faith with Jesus,” he said.

CBCP News reported the archbishop as saying that the upcoming jubilee 

is an invitation to celebrate “God’s love.” 

Colonial realities are “no doubt” a “very painful” part of the nation’s history, Archbishop Valles said, adding however that “compared to the crooked lines… there’s the straight subtle line of God’s love for us.” Nevertheless, the archbishop pointed out that Christians must rejoice in their “gift of faith.”

He said, “In order to appreciate that love of the Lord to us, we should be equipped with the eyes and gift of faith.”

CBCP News reported that the archbishop also joined an earlier meeting in Cebu City, where major jubilee activities are set to be held.

Cebu is considered the “cradle of Christianity” in the country. The first baptism was believed to have been held there not long after the Spanish arrived in 1521. Spanish missionaries also gave the local population the icon of the Santo Niño, or the child Jesus.

CBCP News likewise reported that Bishop Pablo Virgilio David of Kalookan, said that the jubilee is not about colonialism. Instead it’s a celebration of faith as a gift “albeit from people who were not necessarily motivated by the purest of motives,” he said. 

“The mere fact that we eventually repudiated colonial rule but continued to embrace the Christian faith even after we won the revolution could only mean that the natives did not equate Christianity with colonialism,” he said.