Epiphany: Priest slams ‘new Herods’

MANILA, Philippines — Amid modern-day “Herods” in the country, Filipinos should continue to seek Jesus in the light of their hearts, a priest said yesterday.

Rev. Fr. Teodulo Holgado, in his homily during the mass for the Solemnity of the Epiphany, said there are new Herods who, “instead of gifts, bring search warrants, arrest warrants, and weapons to plant.”

“[These would be used] and they would be visiting the ‘manger,’ the houses like Jesus, where the Herods would jail or kill [the innocents,]” Holgado said in Filipino at the National Shrine of Our Mother of Perpetual Help (Baclaran Church).

Holgado cited the case of Lady Ann Salem, a journalist who was arrested by police last December for allegedly bearing .45-caliber pistols, grenades and ammunition.

Salem, an editor of alternative news media outlet Manila Today, was arrested on International Human Rights Day.

The priest said Salem’s family supposedly went to him, saying they were unable to visit her and give her food while in jail.

He also pointed out the indigenous people killed last year in Panay.

“They are protecting nature, they do not want the erection of a dam that would destroy their lands. They were red tagged. Military sought a star, a red star, wherein they said they were part of the armed rebellion,” Holgado said.

“It seems that what is happening in the Bible is actually happening in the present time,” he added.

This, Holgado said, should push Catholics to seek Jesus in the light.

“Let our hearts be the nativity scene, be the bell, so Jesus could be born in our hearts,” he said. “May we show the love and mercy of the Lord through His birth in our hearts.”

The Epiphany of the Lord celebrates the manifestation of Jesus Christ into the world.

It shows the visitation of the three kings to Jesus Christ while in the manger. The wise men followed a shining star that led them to the manger, where they brought gifts to the Lord.

At the Manila Cathedral, Fr. Reginald Malicdem said the Lord had always revealed Himself, making it easy for people to see Him.

During those times when people think that they could not find Him, the Lord would send clues just as the bright shining star that guided the wise men or the angels that helped the shepherds bring them closer to Jesus.

“When we find it difficult to look for God it is not because He hides himself but because we are far from Him,” said Malicdem.

The cathedral rector said that Jesus did not only reveal Himself to the Israelites, but to everyone since He is the God of all.

Malicdem said, “The Lord is not hiding anything. God reveals everything about Himself, in all sincerity and honesty.”

He said this was in contrast to Herod, whose invite to the wise men was done in secret because he had a hidden agenda – he wanted to kill the newborn king Jesus whom he saw as a threat.

He reminded the faithful that Jesus would later say that there are no secrets that cannot be revealed, and once the truth comes out, it would be difficult for the person to come up with credible excuses.

Secrecy is not the way of the Lord, Malicdem said, because “He would always reveal to us who He really is and to guide us as we walk the journey of our life.” – Evelyn Macairan