Pabillo: Change in words, in deeds
Date Posted: October 2, 2020 at 07:53 AM
Bishop Broderick Pabillo did not mince words in his homily during the concelebrated mass in honor of Saint Vincent de Paul, September 27, at the SVP Parish.
The Manila prelate reminded the community of Saint Vincent de Paul’s conversion to loving the less privileged.
He told Vincent’s story of entering priesthood as a means to escape poverty in France, but ended up falling in love to service, especially to the poor.
“Today is the feast day of Saint Vincent de Paul. He is known as the apostle of charity, and the father of the poor. Inilaan nya ang kanyang sarili upang tugunan ang lahat ng uri ng kahirapan – mga may sakit, ulila, may kapansanan, mga bilanggo, mga alipin,” he said.
(He dedicated himself to serve all kinds of deprivation – the sick, orphans, prisoners.)
"Maraming ginawa si San Vicente para sa mahihirap pero hindi sya nagsimula nang ganon. Sa una’y paraan lang ang pagpapari n’ya para makatakas sa kahirapan pero nagbago sya, binago ng Panginoon gamit ang mahihirap… Niyakap niya ang kanyang kahirapan at ang mga mahihirap. Iyon ang nagging layunin ng kanyang buhay at ang buong buhay nya ay ibinigay nya para makatugon kay Kristo na nararanasan sa mga mahihirap.”
(Saint Vincent did many things for the poor but he did not begin as he is. At first, he entered priesthood to escape poverty, but God changed his perspective through the poor… He embraced poverty and the poor. He lived serving God through the poor.)
LSIs, and OFW’s victimized by the economic impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic were also mentioned by Bp. Pabillo, saying 125,000 OFWs already went home due to the pandemic, and the total will potentially reach half million come December. He also cited it was National Migrant and National Seafarer Sunday.
“Ano ang ginagawa natin? May dapat gawin ang gobyerno pero may dapat din tayong gawin bilang indibidwal o kaya bilang simbahan,” he asked.
(What can we do? The government must act but we, too, must act as individuals and as one church.)
“Pwede tayong magdasal, at sana’y ipinagdarasal natin sila ngayong Linggo. Pwede rin tayong magcontribute ng pantulong sa kanila kaya anumang donasyon na ibibigay nyo sa simbahan ngayong linggong ito ay para sa mga migrants,” he said, explaining that migrants are not limited to OFWs and LSIs but extend to evacuees, street dwellers, and those who were left abroad despite losing their jobs.
(We can pray, and I hope we are prayer for them. We can also contribute through the donations we give the church, since donations to be given this Sunday will be given to migrants.)
With the same date being the last Sunday of the Season of Creation, Bp. Pabillo also criticized the Kaliwa Dam project, owing to the P12.4B debt it brought to the Philippines from China, and the prevalence of Chinese workers in the construction. He also mentioned that contract disputes will be heard in China instead of the Philippines.
“Ang usapin sa kalikasan ay nagtatawag ng pagkilos – ng gawa – at hindi lang ng talumpati o pag-aaral… Kailangan nang magkaisa at pigilin ang patuloy na pagkasira nito,” he said.
(Issues on nature call for action, not just speech or studies… We need to be united and stop its constant destruction.)
“Bakit ba tayo pumapasok sa ganitong mga kontrata na kagubatan natin ang sinisira at dayuhan ang masusunod? Kailangang kumilos na tayo alang-alang sa bayan – alang-alang sa inang kalikasan.”
(Why do we engage to these kinds of contracts that damage our forests, and foreign nationals are seen as lords? We need to act for country, and for nature.)
Vincent’s feast day also coincided with National Laity Sunday, leading Bp. Pabillo to remind the community how big their part is in the church.
“Okay na nagdarasal ang mga laity natin pero kung ang dasal nila ay samahan ng pagkilos, Malaki ang pagbabagong mangyayari sa bansa. Kaya gumising na at kumilos na ang ating mga laity,” he said.
(It’s okay if the laity pray, but if only they would act, they would cause significant change in our country. That is why our laity need to rise up and act.)
Manila’s Apostolic Administrator made his point that change should be according to the will of God, and how deeds must always reflect and support intentions and words.
“Ang tinitingnan ng Diyos ay hindi ang ating mabubuting balak o mabubuting salita. The road to hell is paved with many good intentions. Ang tinitingnan ng Diyos ay ang ating gawa. Words can be reassuring but it is [the] deeds that counts, and not just any deed, but the good works of doing the Father’s will,” he said.
(God looks beyond our good intentions and words. The road to hell is paved with many good intentions. God looks into our actions. Words can be reassuring but it is [the] deeds that counts, and not just any deed, but the good works of doing the Father’s will)
“Our times now call for deeds because of the internet. There are a lot of exchange of words and ideas. Kahit na sino ay maaaring magdagdag ng salita sa internet… Maraming salitang mabubulaklak, maraming mga analysis na malalalim pero hanggang dyan na lang.”
(Anyone can add data to the internet… Words can be elaborate, and analyses can be complicated but that is all there is.)
He continued to remind the community that change may be constant, yet, change must be for the better, and even used Vincent de Paul as example.
“Si San Vicente de Paul ay hindi naman masama pero maligamgam ang kanyang bokasyon ngunit nagbago sya. Naging masigasig sya sa kanyang pagisislbi at hindi lang personal na pagsisilbi. Ibinigay nya ang kanyang sarili na hubugin ang mga kaparian upang sila rin ay magbigay ng sarili para sa mga mahihirap,” he explained.
(Saint Vincent de Paul was never wicked, but he was halfhearted with his vocation, yet he eventually changed. He found new zeal to serve. He gave himself to train new priests and gave himself to serve the poor.)
“Siya iyong anak na nagsimulang sumagot nang ayaw pero nagtrabaho sa ubasan ng Panginoon. Hindi lang sya nagbalak, sya ay nagtrabaho,” he continued. “That is the change that God wants from us – change for the better. Change not only in intentions but in words, and change in deeds.”
(He is the child who didn’t want to work but eventually toiled in the vineyard of God. He did not just plan, he worked.)
