MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte called on the nation to observe the Holy Week meaningfully through reflection and working for a better life.
Duterte, who has no qualms about attacking Catholic bishops and priests, urged the public to use the Lenten season to renew their relationship with God.
“This is a time to revitalize our faith and renew our relationship with God and our fellowmen,” he said in a prepared statement as Catholics go to churches today for Palm Sunday.
“As we put our hands together in prayer, may we use this as an opportune time to rekindle our religious fervor and cherish our time-honored traditions as a pious people,” said Duterte, who has quoted the Bible in some of his speeches. He recently referred to some verses on adultery in connection with King David and his many wives.
“As we reflect on the Catholic values and embody selflessness, compassion and love instilled in us through the years, let us remember to always help and uplift the downtrodden because it is only through charitable actions that we can make God’s presence visible among us,” he said.
Duterte, known for using profanity in his speeches, also urged the people to seek God’s guidance to enable an inclusive life for all Filipinos.
“Let us take a moment to pause in the spirit of contemplation and work and unite as one people to build a truly equitable and inclusive nation where everyone can enjoy a decent and comfortable life,” he said.
Duterte will be staying in Davao for the entire Holy Week.
For their part, the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) called on Catholics to be “proclaimers of truth” in this time of misinformation.
Fr. Jerome Secillano, executive secretary of the CBCP-Public Affairs Committee, called on the Catholic faithful to be like the Jesus Christ and be proclaimers of truth.
Palm Sunday, which marks the start of the Holy Week, is also called Passion of Jesus Sunday and the people are reminded of the days leading to his crucifixion. He was wrongfully accused and as demanded by the public, he was nailed on the cross.
“Our commemoration today should lead us to the realization that truth hurts, but lies kill. They killed Jesus with lies because they were hurt by the truth,” said Secillano.
“Truth is not in ideologies. Truth is in Christ. We invite you to embrace Christ once more,” he added.
The CBCP official also recalled that the day itself, Palm Sunday, is “rich in symbolism.”
The Bible says Jesus Christ entered Jerusalem on a donkey and not a horse.
“Donkey in the Eastern tradition is an ‘animal of peace’ while the horse is an ‘animal of war.’ Christ enters Jerusalem as King waging peace not war with the ‘powers-that be’ of his time. He is not quarreling with the Jews and the Romans but merely out to proclaim the truth no matter who gets affected,” he explained.
The palm fronds are also symbolic.
When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the crowds spread their cloaks and branches on the road and greeted with him with palm branches.
“Palm is a symbol of victory. It marks the triumph of Jesus over sin and death,” Secillano said.
When Christ came to Jerusalem he was prepared to meet his passion, meaning he was prepared not only to carry his cross but to be crucified. – With Evelyn Macairan