Villegas cites Litany of Frustrations, but There’s Hope

MANILA, 5 April 2015–The head of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) has listed corruption in the government and the Mamasapano case as among the country’s “litany of frustrations”.

In his message for Easter Sunday, CBCP President Archbishop Socrates Villegas said these challenges are among the reasons why many Filipinos are failing to find joy in the Christian life.

He said it is Christ’s joy that the faithful must carry with them through life but in its quest, “we have often failed to find it”.

“We are bundles of shattered dreams; or we are showcases of fulfilled dreams, which leave us empty. We have worked hard, but are frustrated; we have struggled, but feel the weight of disappointment. We are victims of calamities, natural or man-made, or victims of our own coldness in the face of overwhelming suffering,” Villegas said.

“Remember Yolanda. Remember Mamasapano. Remember then frustrating unsolved problem of government corruption. Remember the loneliness of our loved ones toiling abroad. Our memory is fill of broken hopes and dreams. The litany is endless,” he said.

The archbishop, however, said there is always hope.

The Christian calling, he said, is to return to the joy that comes from the Gospel and from sharing it to other people.

“Easter is the greatest and most important feast of our faith. If Christ did not rise from the dead, our faith is irrelevant and meaningless, dry and dead,” added Villegas.

“Easter beckons us to go beyond the customary greetings and feasting. We must continue the mission of the risen Christ by being ready to bring His message to more people,” he said. (Roy Lagarde/CBCPNews)