Cardinal David urges Catholics to pray for peace in Middle East on Maundy Thursday

Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilio Cardinal David called on the faithful to pray for peace in the Middle East, as they spend time in adoration before the Blessed Sacrament on Maundy Thursday.

David made the call during the Transfer of the Blessed Sacrament from the main altar to the Altar of Repose, following the Mass of the Last Supper at the San Roque Cathedral Parish in Caloocan City.

“Sa ating pagtatanod sa gabing ito, dumulog tayo sa Kanyang awa at habag. Sa natatanging  paraan, maglaan tayo ng sandali ng tahimik na panalangin para sa kasalukuyang krisis sa Gitnang Silangan at sa iba pang bahagi ng mundo na kararanas ng lagim ng digmaan,” David said.

(As we keep vigil tonight, let us turn to His mercy and compassion. In a special way, let us take a moment of solemn prayer for the current crisis in the Middle East and for other parts of the world experiencing the terrors of war.)

“Hilingin natin sa Panginoong Hesus Kristo na gisingin ang mga konsensya ng mga namumuno na kalingain ang mga sibilyang babalot ng takot at hilumin ang mga sugat na dulot ng paglalabanan. Matugunan nawa ang mga daing ng mga nagdurusa at mamayani na rin ang kapayapaan sa buong daigdig,” he added.

(Let us ask the Lord Jesus Christ to awaken the conscience of world leaders to care for the affected civilians who are in fear and to heal their wounds caused by the conflict. May the cries of the suffering be answered, and may peace prevail throughout the world.)

Over 3,000 people have reportedly been killed in the ongoing Middle East conflict, which began when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iran on February?28.

After the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Blessed Sacrament is removed from the tabernacle and placed on an altar at one side of the church, marking the traditional beginning of the Visita Iglesia.

During this time, the faithful are invited to remain in the church and keep vigil for an hour, from 6 p.m. during the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, until 12 a.m. at the seventh church.

Love, serve the marginalized, enemy

During the Mass of the Last Supper in the same church, Cotabato Archbishop Emeritus Orlando Quevedo urged Catholics to serve the poor and sick and to pray for one’s enemies.

Citing the account of Jesus Christ washing the feet of the apostles, Quevedo said that the Lord gave a commandment to love one another, which must be demonstrated in concrete actions.

“To love one another is to serve one another,” Quvedo said during his homily. “To serve one another is to help one another in the common journey to the kingdom. That's the utmost meaning, depth of serving.”

"You serve even those who do not know you, whom you do not know, who might consider themselves your enemies. Because Jesus himself said, 'Love your enemies, pray for those who hate you, pray for those who persecute you.' The deepest kind of love would be to love one's enemy," he added.

This year, members of the San Roque Parish Pastoral Council executive committee and Parish Finance Council participated in the reenactment of the washing of the feet.

Commemorating Jesus Christ’s meal with his disciples before his suffering, death, and resurrection, the Catholic Church observed the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Maundy Thursday. —RF, GMA News