Celebrating Palm Sunday with hundreds of people, Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle urged them to fight evil with love, humility, and sacrifice, and never with violence, reported CBCP News.
He told those gathered at the Manila Cathedral that Christian living can only be achieved when founded on humility exemplified by Christ.
“What did Jesus say? Don’t use violence. Instead, his response to those arresting and maltreating him was healing,” Tagle said in his homily.
He noted that it’s almost impossible for people to follow Jesus who emptied himself “because that’s not the way of the world”.
“But for the Lord, that’s not impossible,” the cardinal said.
According to him, it is by staying humble that the Christian can enter into a relationship with Jesus.
Before the Mass, Tagle blessed palm branches brought for the occasion in order to commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
During the Holy Week, he said Christians should meditate on the suffering of Jesus and recognize that “He humbled himself for us”.
The celebration, Tagle said, is not just about taking a vacation but an occasion to get to know Jesus.
“I’m asking you, look at Jesus. Even if his words are hard to understand and his deeds are hard to follow, let’s not avoid him. Instead, let’s look and listen to him intently,” he said.
