The Bishop of Kalookan, Monsignor Pablo Virgilio David, has pointed out in his homily that, “the true supporters of peace in this world have had to face many adversities”, when referring to the Philippine journalist who has been awarded the Nobel Prize in peace.
Vatican City
“For the first time in our history, a Filipino journalist has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Hearing his speech, I felt something light up within me. It gave me a little ray of hope that on Sunday Gaudete, in this penitential season of Advent, it also feeds. María Ressa’s speech echoed the words of Saint Paul: ‘Rejoice always in the Lord.’ Saint Paul invites us to replace our anguish with a deep feeling of peace that surpasses all understanding, ”said Monsignor Pablo Virgilio David, Bishop of Kalookan, in his inauguration as President of the Episcopal Conference of the Philippines ( CBCP).
According to Agenzia Fides, when addressing the assembly at Mass this Sunday, the Bishop pointed out that “the true supporters of peace in this world have had to face many adversities. Just think, for example, of other Nobel Peace Prize winners such as Aung San Suu Kyi from Myanmar, Nelson Mandela from South Africa, Lech Walesa from Poland or Malala Yousafzai from Pakistan ”.
María Ressa has asked all the citizens of the world the following question: “What are you willing to sacrifice for the truth?” “Your question reminds me – the Bishop has argued – of another brave preacher of the truth, John the Baptist. And the words of another bold prophet, Micah: ‘You have been told what is good and what the Lord requires of you: do justice, love goodness, and walk humbly with your God. (Mic 6, 8) ‘. The prophets – Monsignor David continued – invite us to find the good that is already within us ”, allowing“ that inner sense of justice and compassion to emerge that leads us to share food with the hungry, which prevents us from exploiting to the weak and vulnerable, that sense of truth that will make us reject lies and falsehoods ”. ‘
The Bishop recalled the key passage from María Ressa’s speech, delivered on December 10 in Oslo, at the Nobel Prize ceremony: “Our greatest need today is to transform that hatred and that violence, the toxic sludge that runs through our ecosystem. informative; this means we have to work harder. We have to believe that there is good in the world, “he said, noting that” our humanity causes miracles to occur.
Monsignor David has appreciated María Ressa’s warning to the world against narratives based on lies, repeated by armies of trolls on social media that ultimately take the place of truth. These techniques often succeed in shaping public opinion and undermine the very life of democracies.
In this context, the Bishop said: “God sends us people who are like little sparks of light that give us a ray of hope in the midst of darkness.” In the season of Advent, “we experience a vision of the future and a determination to work for its realization, for the good of future generations.”
“The light, for us, is the divinity that shines in the humanity of Jesus Christ. It is what John the Baptist prepared himself for. By the tender compassion of our God, the dawn from on high will come upon us, to illuminate those who are in darkness and in the shadows of death. And to guide our steps on the path of peace ”, Monsignor David concluded.
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Philippines Monsignor David: the Nobel Prize to María Ressa, a ray of hope – Vatican News