God vigilant all the time

CEBU, Philippines - “Natutulog ba ang Diyos?”

Basilica Minore del Sto. Niño rector Fr. Jonas Mejares said this thought might be on the minds of many people hit by one calamity after another, as he celebrated a mass to commemorate Typhoon Yolanda at the Sto. Niño Pilgrim Center yesterday, exactly one year after the strongest typhoon in history devastated parts of the Visayas.

The mass started at 5:30 p.m. After the Gospel of St. John was read, the lights were dimmed and Mejares asked churchgoers to offer individual prayers in silence.

Later candles would be lit with fire passed from a single flame at the altar.

The rector then led the prayers of healing for those who suffered due to the typhoon either through losing loved ones, properties or livelihood, among others. Prayers lauding those who took part in search and rescue, aid and rehabilitation were also offered.

In his homily, Mejares echoed the questions of those who suffered from the super typhoon as well as the magnitude 7.2 earthquake that shook Cebu and Bohol less than a month earlier.

“Natutulog ba ang Diyos? This is one of the many questions we ask everytime we are in pain, sorrow, agony, trouble... Diin man Siya sa dihang nahitabo ang linog ug ang bagyong Yolanda? Lisud kining tubagon. Ang akong matubag niini mao nga ang Ginoo ray nahibaw,” he said.

He further stressed that while people naturally seek God when in trouble, His favorite place is the heart of the person in vain.

“You yourself are the temple of God. We are all temples of God. And if God dwells in our heart, why do we need to construct churches? Why do we need to restore those destroyed by the calamities? Every church is a symbol of God’s temple and our faith. And we need to take care of these. We are gathered here today because of love. God never abandoned us. Wala natulog ang Diyos,” Mejares explained.

Capping his homily, Mejares, also known as the singing priest, offered a song dedicated to the survivors of both the super typhoon and the earthquake. Mejares himself is from Loon town in Bohol.

He did a rendition of Gary Valenciano’s inspirational song “Natutulog Ba ang Diyos” to which the church goers sang along.

The basilica itself is still being rehabilitated after its belfry sustained damage during the earthquake.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)