April 27 is
an exceptionally event-filled Sunday in the calendar! There is the exciting
football match between the Philippine Azkals and their Southeast Asian rival
Malaysia Tigers at the Cebu City Sports Center. After playing to a scoreless
draw in Malaysia under new American coach Thomas Dooley, this will be their
second friendly in preparation for the Asian Football Confederation Challenge
Cup next month. The match is not just another milestone; its very crucial. Moreover,
the action happens right on home soil!
Lapu-Lapu
City will burst with life for this year’s 493rd Kadaugan sa Mactan. A bigger crowd is expected to watch the
reenactment of the historic battle between Datu Lapu-Lapu and Portuguese
explorer Ferdinand Magellan on the shores of Mactan. The battle took place on
April 27, 1521. His death may have cut short his legendary life, yet
history credits him to have implanted Christianity on the Philippine soil.
Arriving in Cebu on 7 April, he convinced Rajah Humabon and Hara Amihan to
receive baptism. His baptismal gift to them, the Senyor Sto. Niño, is now honored
with the grandest festivity as the oldest religious icon in the country.
On a religious
note, this is also commemorated as Divine Mercy Sunday. This devotion is based
on the visions of St. Faustina Kowalska, a Polish nun known as the Apostle of
Divine Mercy. In her diary, later published as the book “The Diary of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska: Divine Mercy in My Soul,”
she reported having conversations with Jesus who told her: “Humanity will never
find peace until it turns with trust to Divine Mercy". The devotion was
actively promoted by Pope John Paul II who canonized her on 30 April 2000 and
officially designated the second Sunday of Easter as the Sunday of the Divine
Mercy.
But the more
highlighted event is the dual canonization of two modern-day spiritual heroes,
Pope John XXIII and Pope John Paul II. Though much focus will be given to the
globe-trotting JPII who had a 26-year papacy and sprinted his way to the sainthood,
John XXIII is no less awesome. His candid, humble and humorous ways
revolutionize the Church and endeared him to his flock as a father and pastor.
In describing Pope John’s qualities, Pope Francis reveals: “He was courageous.
A good country priest, with a great sense of humor and great holiness.”
Though
elected when he was 76 years old in 1958 with a great majority feeling that he
would simply be a “transitional pope,” he surprised the world by convoking the
2nd Vatican Council for the purpose of “aggiornamento,” an Italian
word literally meaning “bringing up to date.” He said it was time “to open the windows of the Church to let in
some fresh air.” He called it a “new
Pentecost” in the life of the Church to adapt its organization and teaching
to the needs of the modern world, and to have as its more far-reaching goal the
unity of all Christians. John XXIII can be credited for this vision of
“revival” in the Church.
Moreover,
his pontificate was characterized by his unique personality. He never lost the
simplicity and humility of his peasant upbringing doing away with meaningless
formalities. Vatican officials and the Italian government would be horrified by
his unannounced and un-escorted visits to hospitals, prisons or through the
streets of Rome. He was a sharp diplomat who handled some of the church's
toughest assignments before becoming Pope; a cunning leader who launched the
process that defined the 20th-century Catholic Church. These are the same
qualities embodied by the current Pope, Francis.
John Paul II
is a known figure. He is a great Youth Minister, a Nobel Peace Prize winner,
writer, philosopher, theologian, now saint! He is the only Pope in history to
have visited Cebu on February 19-20, 1981.Narrating about his Cebu trip, Antonio
Java ( recounts that JPII was even stuck in the Banilad traffic at that time!
When cars were not moving, he disembarked from his vehicle to the surprise of
his escorts to visit a chapel dedicated to the Sto. Niño. There he knelt in prayer
to the surprise of nearby residents. Imagine this great leader showing us of
the importance of prayer and patience!
Today, the
challenge is on us. We make them our inspiration, not just “museum pieces.” In
their lifetime, these pontiffs encourage active participation of the laity and
taught that holiness is not exclusive for a few. John Paul II wrote: “Holiness is the high standard of ordinary Christian living.” We too can be like them if we put Jesus the center of our lives. Then
holiness can also happen right here on home soil!
