Pastoral Instruction: The Bible, Our Light and Our Strength

My dear people of God in the Archdiocese of Manila,

When people are in the dark, they need light. When people are weak, they need strength. We are in the dark. We do not know when this pandemic will be over and what will happen to us and to our world after this. We are weak. Do we still have the strength to carry on in this way for two more weeks, and perhaps longer? We need light. We need strength. We identify with the Psalmist: “My heart shudders, my strength forsakes me; the very light of my eyes has failed” (Ps. 38:11). The Word of God in the Bible provides light and strength.

The Bible gives us light because it points Jesus to us. He said: "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (Jn. 8:12). Because Jesus is our Rock we can say with St. Paul: “I have the strength for everything through him who empowers me” (Phil. 4:13).

The Bible is such a great gift of God and gives us a lot of spiritual benefits that the Church attaches a plenary indulgence to it whenever we read it in a prayerful way for at least 30 minutes.

We all wanted to read the Bible, but somehow the busy lives that we led prevented us from doing so. We had no time. Now suddenly, in these quarantine weeks, we have time, a lot of time! In fact we are considering how we can spend our time meaningfully at home. We do not want to squander this rare commodity that we have now.  

Take time to read the Bible. You will never regret the time you give to be in touch with God by reading his Word. Pope Benedict XVI wrote: “The disciples in a certain sense become drawn into intimacy with God by being immersed in the word of God” (Verbum Domini #80).

How to immerse ourselves in the Word of God in the Bible? For more than 1500 years we Christians have developed a simple but effective way to do this. We call this Lectio Divina. It is a prayerful and spiritual way of reading the Bible. With time in our hands, we can try this out daily until it becomes a habit.

Take a biblical text, say the Bible reading of the day. Read it slowly, paying attention to each word. Read it several times, and as you read, ask yourself the question: What do these words say? You can stay on this, reading the passage three, five or even seven times. You then close the Bible and meditate on what you have read, asking the question: What does this passage say to me? When you are able to say in a sentence or two the meaning of the text for you, turn to God and pray. The message is God’s word for you and your prayer is your answer to God. This prayer answers the question: How does this Bible passage lead me to address God? Your prayer may be a prayer of praise, or thanksgiving, or petition, or contrition – depending on how God spoke to you in the text.

After having prayed, now keep silent. Contemplate. It is creating a space of deep awareness of God’s presence. Just open yourself to him. Finally, reflect and answer this question: What does God ask me to do today? This is the action part. The Word of God leads us to action.

Read. Meditate. Pray. Contemplate. Act. These are the simple steps to read the Bible in a prayerful way. It can be done approximately between 30 minutes to 45 minutes depending on how long is the passage you have chosen.

The Word of God is very appropriate in our situation. Not only do we have the time. We need light to understand our state, and strength, to hang on in the face of boredom and weakness, especially for the sick. Again Pope Benedict tells us: “It is in times of pain that the ultimate questions about the meaning of one’s life make themselves acutely felt… Faith born out of an encounter with God’s word 3 helps us to realize that human life deserves to be lived fully even when weakened by illness and pain”(Verbum Domini #106).

Let us not be afraid of the silence we are now in. In fact, it is the opportunity to tap on the treasure of God’s Word. “Only in silence can the word of God find a home in us, as it did in Mary, woman of the word and, inseparably, woman of silence” (Verbum Domini #66).

Yours truly in Jesus Christ,

+BRODERICK PABILLO

Apostolic Administrator of Manila

28 March 2020

Pastoral Instruction: Let us not put aside care for Mother Earth

My dear people of God in the Archdiocese of Manila,

During these quarantine days most of our attention is riveted to COVID 19. This is understandable because it is an invisible enemy perceived to be everywhere. This great concern on the coronavirus, however, may cloud our mind from other important matters that should call our constant attention. I speak most specifically of our care for Mother Earth, our common home. The global damage that COVID 19 does should make concrete to us the global destruction that will come upon us if we do not care for our common home.

In a way, this coronavirus phenomenon inadvertently has some positive effects for Mother Earth. The forced rest imposed on us by the virus also gives rest to Mother Earth. The factories that are shut down, the air, land and sea travels that are cancelled, the business buildings that are quiet – all of these, at least momentarily, bring down the CO2 emissions that we spew out to our skies. But more than these, we are forced to face some important realities of life. For one, that we are all interconnected. What happened in Wuhan, China is now affecting all the world, and almost all aspects of our life. And if it is true that this virus came from animals, exotic at that, this tells us that we humans are bound to other living creatures as well.

Now that our life is constricted, we are seeing that it is possible to live an alternative lifestyle contrary to that which we had been so used to, and we thought we could not do without. We thought that we need to be always on the go, that we could buy things that we wanted, and easily throw away those that we do not want. Pope Francis told us in Laudato Si’: “Christian spirituality proposes an alternative understanding of the quality of life… one capable of deep enjoyment free of the obsession with consumption.” (LS #222) Now we see a glimpse, and in fact, we may already enjoy it, that “LESS IS MORE.” It is spelled out thus: “Christian spirituality proposes a growth marked by moderation and the capacity to be happy with little. It is a return to that simplicity which allows us to stop and appreciate the small things, to be grateful for the opportunities which life affords us, to be spiritually detached from what we possess, and not to succumb to sadness for what we lack.” (LS #222) Let us go through this again and reflect on it. Is this not what we are living now? Is it not liberating?

Hopefully these days of forced quarantine can help us see life anew and inculcate in us a way of life that is more friendly to our family and to our beloved Mother Earth.

To home in on us our responsibility to the environment, providentially we have EARTH HOUR this year on Saturday, March 28. EARTH HOUR started in Sydney in 2007 when businesses and residential houses turned off all lights for one hour to make a stand against climate change. Since then, it has been done annually all over the world, participated in by more people in all countries. In the Philippines this year we will be turning off the light from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm. It will be very dramatic and felt by all families because we will all be at home. We will stay in darkness and in silence for an hour, hopefully to make us appreciate the importance of energy. If we squander it, we will be forced to do without it because energy too is scarce resource. As Christians let us spend this hour in prayer for our Mother Earth and for all those who defend and care for it.

Let us not be myopic. We are not only fighting against COVID 19. We are fighting for a better and healthier life. We cannot achieve this without a cleaner and healthier Mother Earth. We are reminded that: “The effects of our encounter with Jesus Christ become evident in our relationship with the world around us. Living our vocation to be protectors of God’s handiwork is essential to a life of virtue; it is not an optional or secondary aspect of our Christian experience.” (LS  #217)

In Mother Mary, the Word of God took flesh. Because of this “creation awaits with eager expectation the revelation of the children of God.” (Rom. 8:19) Together with us, creation awaits salvation.

Yours truly in Christ.

Bishop Broderick Pabillo

March 25, 2020

Time to Love

The Holy Book says: “There is an appointed time for everything, and a time for every affair under the heavens.” (Eccl. 3:1) Thus “there is a time to love.” (Eccl. 3:8) Of course every time is a time to love. But during this time of COVID 19 which is very much out of the ordinary, people may think of many things, but not of love. Many emotions burst out because of extraordinary measures: fear, for one, another can be anger, while others may fall into helplessness. The message of love should therefore be proclaimed loud and clear in this time. Now is the time to love!

St. John wrote in his letter: “There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.” (1 Jn. 4:18) Let us not look at this COVID 19 phenomenon as a punishment. If we do then we go to blame-pointing – who made the mistake, who sinned. This is one subtle way to throw the burden to the others to solve this problem. But perfect love drives away fear – fear that it is an inevitable punishment, fear of others who caused this, fear of uncertain future.

As Christians when we speak of love, we speak firstly not of our love, but of the source of love, God. “We love because He first loved us.” (1 Jn. 4:19) Convinced that we are loved, then we can love others. “In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also must love one another.” (1 Jn. 4:10-11)

With all these sufferings, with all our routines disrupted, with all day to day life disturbed, can we still say that we are loved by God? We need this assurance of the Word of God. “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword?” (Rom. 8:35) We can also add, will virus separate us from the love of Christ? God continues to love us in Christ even with this corona pandemic. He will see us through this. This too will pass. He will protect us.

Assured that God’s love encompasses us, then let us love others more in these times. We are day in and day out with our families. This is a golden opportunity to show our love to them by being considerate and patient with each one, by having time with each one, and by opening ourselves up to each other. Let us not just share our gripes to each one but create fond memories with each other.

While it is good to have love for those people we are forced to stay with, let us expand our love. Let us love those who are particularly affected by these times – the poor, the day to day wage earners, and the frontline / health workers who risk themselves to be of service to others. Perhaps this is the time to dig deep down into our pockets to help out those who do not even have pockets to dig into.

As we try to help the poor around us, it would be good if the help we extend is more organized and thus impactful.  Let us support institutions that have the heart and the technology to help. One thing that comes to mind is CARITAS MANILA, an NGO of the Archdiocese of Manila, which knows where the poor are and how to reach them through its network of parishes.

For our present covid crisis, Caritas Manila is accepting donations to provide CARITAS LIGTAS COVID KIT (each costing P2,000) which consists of 1 liter 70% ethyl alcohol, 5 pcs 30ml handy bottle alcohol, 5 pcs washable facemask, 1 liter antibacterial liquid soap, 1 box (100 tab) vitamin c with zinc, 1 pair reusable gloves, 1 liter liquid bleach, 3 pcs cleaning cloth, and 1 pc eco bag.  

In addition, Caritas Manila also gives away the MANNA FOOD BAG (each costing P700) which contain 5 kilos of rice, 9 assorted canned goods, 6 pcs instant noodles, ¼ kilo sugar, ¼ kilo salt, ¼ kilo munggo and 1 caritas eco bag.

If you want to donate to Caritas Manila, its savings account name is CARITAS MANILA, INC with the following account numbers: BDO savings account 000-5600-45905, BPI savings account 3063-5357-01 and Metrobank savings account 175-3-17506954-3. You may inquire at 8562 0020 to 25 local 118,139,135 or 09175955083.

Now is the time to love – our loved ones and those in need!

Pastoral Instruction: How to keep the Lord’s Day holy

My dear people of God in the Archdiocese of Manila,

We know the 3rd Commandment: You shall keep the Lord’s Day holy. In ordinary times we tend to believe that we have kept this commandment when we have attended Mass on Sunday. After the Mass, we do what we want with Sunday. In many cases it has ceased to become the Lord’s Day when we are done with the Sunday obligation to go to Mass. In fact, many times it has become MY Day.

In this special time of the Corona Virus, we are forced to rethink how to make the Lord’s Day holy, as we are forced to rethink many of our customary practices. Can I still make the Lord’s Day holy when I can no longer attend Mass? We all feel that the online Mass is not the same as the physical attendance to the Holy Mass. It is a very poor substitute. How then to keep the 3rd commandment?

To consider Sunday as the Lord’s Day is to keep it the Lord’s Day. It is not OUR day. It is the Day of the Lord Jesus. On Sunday we celebrate the greatest event of salvation, the Resurrection of Jesus. He has overcome evil and sin, and even death! It is a day then that we turn our attention to Jesus. During all the days of the week we have been concerned about ourselves – our job, our home, our school work, our friends. On Sunday we turn our attention to the Lord. Thus we participate in his victory over death by the celebration of the Eucharist and by paying attention to the other important things in life which otherwise are crowded out in the day-to-day concerns. Thus we take time to nourish our faith by prayer and the reading of the Scriptures. We pay attention to our family. Sunday is often the family bonding day. Another way to keep the Lord’s Day holy is to set aside time to serve others in the community. To serve others is to serve the Lord.

During the coming weeks, we will not be able to come to the Holy Mass physically nor serve in church, but there are still other things that we can do. We can have greater bonding with our family members. Thus it is good to participate in the online mass as a family. Then we can take time to pray together, especially the family rosary, and even to read the Word of God together. Some families are helped to deepen their relationship when they have Bible sharing as a family. Since we are just at home we can have some family games or storytelling. These moments of laughter and jest will ease our boredom and will be treasured by all, young and old alike, later on.

We cannot go out to serve the Church or the community these quarantine days. Can we not set aside some amount on Sunday and give to the poor and the daily wage earners around us? If each family gives some food or some money to one or two other persons on Sunday in their vicinity, we would be helping many people as church and be spreading the joy of the Lord’s Day to them.

Dear friends, let us keep the Lord’s Day holy in our homes even in these extraordinary times. Let not the COVID 19 steal the joy of Sunday from us. Let us offer our Sundays to the Lord by our prayers as a family, by enjoying our love for each other, and by going out of our way to help one or two needy persons around us.

May the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph be with us and protect our families.

Yours truly in Christ,

Bishop Broderick Pabillo

Administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila

March 21, 2020

Pastoral Instruction on Days of Fasting and Prayer

My dear people of God in the Archdiocese of Manila,

In the Scriptures, in moments of difficulties such as plagues, defeat in battle, impending attack of the enemy, and famine, the call to the people by the prophets, kings and priests was to fast and pray. This expresses the belief that our intense connection with God is vital for our survival, and that He does intervene when together as a people we turn to him in earnest. So we are told: “If then my people, upon whom my name has been pronounced, humble themselves and pray, and seek my face and turn from their evil ways, I will hear them from heaven and pardon their sins and heal their land.” (2 Chr. 7:14)

So the CBCP instruction last March 13, 2020 states: “We are enjoining all the Local Ordinaries and the Diocesan Administrators to call for a Day of Prayer and Fasting for all those who are infected with the COVID-19 and those who have died, and for our deliverance from this pandemic.” In response to this appeal the bishops of Metro Manila wrote: “We call for days of penance, prayer and fasting during all the Fridays of Lent (March 20, 27, & April 3), including Good Friday (April 10).” (Pastoral Letter of Metro Manila Bishops, March 16, 2020)

Let us all be one in prayer and fasting, although we are in our homes. Let us together seek Divine intervention. On these days let us take time to pray, especially pray as a family. You can join in the online Holy Mass, you can pray the rosary, even all the four mysteries, and you can read the Scriptures as a family and have some kind of Bible sharing. Let us pray for the healing of those afflicted by the virus, let us pray for the eternal repose of those who have died and their families, let us pray that the spread of this contagion be stopped, let us pray for the protection of the health care workers.

As for fasting, you can lessen the intake of food, like no merienda, or only two meals, or take only one full meal that day, depending on the health condition of each one. These Fridays are also days of abstinence from meat. Let us be reminded, though, that fasting is not just measured by the feeling of hunger. The Lord says: “Is this the manner of fasting I would choose, a day to afflict oneself? To bow one's head like a reed, and lie upon sackcloth and ashes? Is this what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? Is this not, rather, the fast that I choose: releasing those bound unjustly, ….. and breaking off every yoke? Is it not sharing your bread with the hungry, bringing the afflicted and the homeless into your house; clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning your back on your own flesh?” (Is. 58:5-7)

Real fasting brings us in solidarity with the sufferings of others. This COVID 19 brings a lot of suffering. I refer not only to the suffering of those afflicted with the virus, not only to the great sense of fear and uncertainty of many. I refer most specifically to many in the Archdiocese who are in dire physical and economic need because they have no income at all – the street people, the daily wage earners, those who are engaged in the informal sector for a living, and many others. We are also called to be in solidarity with the health care workers. They are in the frontline helping people, thus exposing themselves to the disease. Being in solidarity with them does not only mean to feel sorry for them. Solidarity challenges us to go out of our way to extend help to them.

I appeal to all to set aside whatever they may have saved because they have fasted and give this to those who are in need. Those who are capable can even go much further. They can donate more generously to the poor and the health care workers. Our call of entreaty to God will be heard if we also hear the silent cry of those who have none. You can send your donations to your parishes or to Caritas Manila. The Archdiocese has a program to reach out to them through the parishes and other church institutions.

I take this opportunity to call on Christian businessmen and women and those who employ people. Be generous to your employees in these times. It is no longer just paying them for their work. They are unable to work not because they do not want to, but they are prevented from doing so. True justice is always tempered by love, and love is also expressed in gratuity. Be gratuitous to them. God will bless you for being so. The Lord promises: “Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: ‘Here I am!’”  (Is. 58:9)

Let our prayer be intense. Let our fasting be generous! Let us all enter set aside the remaining Fridays of lent as days of prayer and fasting.

Mother Mary, Health of the Sick, interceded for us.

Yours truly in Christ,

Bishop Broderick Pabillo

March 18, 2020

Pastoral Instruction how to make most of the Online Holy Mass

My dear People of God in the Archdiocese of Manila,

We all feel the great void of not being able to physically participate in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Surely the online Mass is not the same as going to Church to celebrate the Holy Mass. Perhaps this void should make us realize the great opportunity that we have here in the Archdiocese of being able to come to Mass regularly every Sunday, if not every day. This is not so in many parts of our country. Consider that in many small chapels in the provinces our fellow Catholics do not have mass every Sunday. It is good if they have one once a month or even a few times a year for lack of priests and the means of the transportation. They are not even able to follow online masses because of the lack of connectivity. In this extraordinary time we get a small taste of their ordinary fare.

But since we have the online mass, let us make the most of it. I give you some tips on how to profit better from this poor substitute. Since you know the time of the mass, prepare yourselves well for it. Do not watch it with a cup of coffee in hand. Before the mass read the mass readings to prepare yourselves to hear them better once they are proclaimed in the Eucharist. You can know the mass readings through the Catholic Bible Reading Guide, the Pandasal, the many books that give us the daily Bible readings and even some commentaries on them, or you can access these readings online. Have a few moments too to think what you are to thank the Lord for and what to offer to him in this mass. Remember that you are praying this Eucharist with many other fellow Catholics not only in your parish but all over the world.

Stay in a reverent gesture throughout the mass, standing or sitting up properly.  It would be good if the whole family in the house joins together in the mass. Do not just watch the mass. Join in it with your prayers, responses and singing. At the time of communion, make the spiritual communion. You can pray this beautiful prayer attributed to St. Alphonsus de Liguori:

My Jesus,

I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.

I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally,

come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You. Amen

At the end of the online mass, take some moment of silence to read again the Scripture readings and reflect how, enlightened by the homily, you can live God’s Word that day.

I hope these simple tips can help in making the most of the online masses. Do not worry. This situation of not being able to come to Church for the mass is temporary. May this temporary deprivation bear fruit in a fuller appreciation of the great gift of the Eucharist that we in the archdiocese are privileged to participate in regularly. God bless you and let us be one asking the Lord to avert the pandemic caused by COVID 19.

Mother Mary Health of the Sick, pray for us!

Your Servant in the Lord Jesus,

Bishop Broderick Pabillo

Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila

March 15, 2020

Corona Virus Silver Lining

Black clouds signify dark and even stormy times are coming. But at the edge of the dark clouds one can see a silver lining which show that not everything is black and behind the darkness there is the sun shining. The darkness will pass away and the brightness of light will come back again.

The COVID 19 brings a lot of darkness and uncertainties. It has really put our lives topsy-turvy.  It has affected our work, our income, our leisure, our travels, our routine and even our religious activities. And we do not know up to when and up to what extent! But we have to see that no reality is totally bad. No matter how dark, some brightness is also brought out. Looking at the silver lining can give us hope and it can help us live through the darkness until the light comes out. And light will come out! As the Good Book says: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (Jn. 1:5) Let us see the light that shines in the darkness of the global pandemic.

The COVID 19 phenomenon has brought about lockdowns and quarantines. Many people are immobilized physically. It has reduced the pace of our lives. So now we do not have to run from one place to another or be lost in traffic. We can take time easily – and in our homes together with our loved ones. We can do things in the house which we had long wanted but had no time or energy for them. Some can cook once more; others can do some cleaning and washing. We can put our homes and our rooms in order. One can do gardening. We can play and pray together again as a family or as neighbors. We can take time to tell stories to one another and watch TV or movies together. We can pick up the book that we had long wanted to read, or play a musical instrument. There are a lot of things that we can do without much cost.

Lent has originally been a 40-day retreat for the whole Christian people. COVID 19 is forcing us, as a people, to slow down a bit and take our retreat in our homes. Let us heed the call of St. Anselm who lived more than a thousand years ago: “Insignificant man, escape from your everyday business for a short while, hide for a moment from your restless thoughts. Break off from your cares and troubles and be less concerned about your tasks and labors. Make a little time for God and rest a while in him.” Let us take time to think, to pray, to read the Bible. Let us consider how really insignificant our human existence is. With all our technological achievements, a virus can bring the whole world to a halt and erase billions of financial wealth and together with it our human hubris. And it affects all – rich and poor alike!

Perhaps this virus outbreak can be telling us: look, go back to the basics – to your basic human relationships with your families and neighbors, to your basic needs, to your connection with God, the Power that you thought you can ignore but ultimately is the one you can hang on too. His love is everlasting. He is the Rock of our Salvation.

This contagion can also be pointing us to another direction – to one another. We need one another. We need the cooperation of all so that the infection will not spread. Let us not only be afraid that we get infected. Let us be careful that we do not cause the virus to spread to others, especially to our loved ones. While we are concerned about our own safety and our needs, let us also open our eyes to the needs of others, especially the most vulnerable ones – the elderly, the sick and the poor. The daily wage earners who will not have work for a whole month is also a great concern. Let us be generous to them. It would be ridiculous to pray that we be cared for by God when we do not care for others.

May these important messages of COVID 19 be paid attention to by all. Nothing is totally useless – not even this pandemic! There is always a silver lining!