TACLOBAN CITY- Archbishop John Du exhorted the members of the media to “spread” the good words that God is merciful. Du, who made this encouragement during a Christmas party for media practitioners based in Tacloban on December 30, said that God’s love to His people is boundless and limitless that forgiving His children is beyond question.
The region’s highest prelate disclosed that 2016 has been declared as the Year of Mercy. “I hope the media will always remind the people that God is merciful… (that) when we are helpless, always ask God’s company,” he said in his message. “You have the mission to spread the good news; that God is merciful,” the prelate added. Last March 13, 2015, Pope Francis declared 2016 as the Jubilee Year for Mercy wherein the period is considered by the Church as the time for mercy and remission of sins. Du said that seeking forgiveness from God whenever one committed a sin or has failed, there is no other recourse but to seek God’s mercy. And this could be demonstrated when one kneels before God, the archbishop said. Du said also said that the practice of mercy and love should start in the family, adding that he personally witnessed this during the time the region was devastated by supertyphoon “Yolanda” on Dec.8, 2013.
According to the archbishop, love of the parents, particularly, the mothers, is truly beyond words. He said that when the Palo cathedral was being pummeled by Yolanda, with its roofs blown away, mothers turned “stubborn” just to save their children who were separated from them due to the commotion as they tried to look for a safer area inside the cathedral. At that time, there were hundreds of people, including Du, who were trapped inside the cathedral when Yolanda made her full fury. “There was full of drama inside but clearly, the mothers were willing to sacrifice their own very lives for the sake of their children,” Du said.
(JOEY A. GABIETA)
