A Catholic bishop in the Philippines has warned that selfishness and individualism will further the problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic, reported CBCP News.
Despite the lockdown, Bishop Raul Dael of Tandag stressed that a community will stand firm if people will help each other.
“What would destroy a community is selfishness,” Dael said in his homily during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at the San Nicolas de Tolentino Cathedral on Thursday.
“There is no more spirit of community if people turn selfish,” he said. “What builds up a community of God is the spirit of communion.”
Thursday’s ritual that usually includes the washing of the feet, he said, reminds Christians of their call to serve others through the concrete realities of life.
Given the protocols regarding physical distancing and the absence of faithful, the traditional ritual was skipped.
The prelate stressed that the purpose of the celebration is not just for the sake of the ritual “but to lead us to action”.
“If we look at the spirit of the eucharist, no hunger will happen in our communities,” Bishop Dael said.
“There is hunger in the world not because we lack resources but we lack generosity,” he said.
Earlier in the day, the bishop visited the city’s frontliners against the coronavirus in road checkpoints, hospitals and government offices.
Accompanied by some priests, nuns, seminarians, and laypeople, Dael also prayed and blessed the frontliners and provided them food packs.
