Tagle opens Simbang Gabi with homily on power play, bullying

Highlights of the first day of the Aguinaldo Mass presided by Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle at the Manila Cathedral. (Photo by Lorenzo Atienza via The Manila Cathedral/Facebook)

As Catholics prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ through the traditional Simbang Gabi, Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle on the first night of the nine chose to talk about power play, bullying, and insecurities and how these are connected to unhappiness.

Tagle was quoting Saint Paul’s advice on attaining happiness, when he described as something in Jesus’ era but seemed to be written ‘just like yesterday.’

“Pareho pa rin ang sikreto ng kaligayahan; huwag kang mangmamaliit (The secret to happiness is still the same [then and now]: do not belittle others),” he said on Sunday, December 16.

“Hindi por que mayroon kang posisyon, ikaw ay may karapatan na para mangyurak ng kapwa (Just because you have a position, this does not give you the right to destroy other people),” the prelate added.

The Manila Archbishop also called those ‘bullies’ who abuse their powers to belittle others as people who are the most scared and insecure.

This time, quoting St. John the Baptist, Tagle said that one should not bully anyone.

“Huwag mong gagagamitin ang iyong kapangyarihan mambastos. Huwag mong gagamitin ang iyong kapangyarihan para piitin o i-coerce ang iba. Huwag mong gamitin ang iyong armas para magparatang ng hindi totoo (Do not use your power to be vulgar. Do not use your power to coerce others. Do not use your arms to spread distorted truths),” he continued.

Tagle further said that “Ang taong mapayapa sa sarili, ang taong maligaya, hindi kailanman magyayabang kasi maligaya siya sa Panginoon. Ang maligaya sa Panginoon, ipagyayabang niya ang Panginoon (A person who is at peace with himself, a person who is happy will never boast because he is happy with the Lord. Someone who is happy with the Lord, will only boast the Lord).”

Though  no political figures were mentioned, Tagle’s sermon came after the recent verbal attacks of President Rodrigo Duterte to the Church.

Earlier this December, Duterte in a speech said “useless” Catholic bishops who slam his administration should just die.

[READ: Duterte blasts Church anew, says ‘useless’ bishops should be killed]

“Itong mga obispo ninyo, patayin ninyo. Walang silbi ‘yang mga g******* ‘yan (Your bishops, kill them. Those idiots are useless). All they do is criticize,” the President said.

Meanwhile, Malacañang through Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said that Duterte’s statement was only a “hyperbole”

[READ: Duterte’s ‘kill bishops’ remark is only ‘hyperbole’ — Palace]

In a Palace briefing, Panelo said that the people “should be getting used to this President. He makes certain statements for dramatic effect.”

The spokesperson stressed that the Chief Executive just wanted the bishops to stop criticizing his government and should just help by giving “constructive suggestions” to the country’s problems.