Five hundred years ago in this part of the world called now Philippines, Christianity arrived with those who explored this land and started to conquer it. Today, we recall this 500 years with joy and sorrow. Joy because the message of the Love of God through Christianity gradually was experienced by the people with the result that today, majority of the people have embraced Christianity. Sorrow because the spreading of Christianity thru the centuries it has not been always according to the evangelic spirit of love for all.
This new liturgical year that starts with Advent and will culminate with the Christmas celebration is an invitation to the Christians to enter in to a stage of new conversion of the heart that Pope Francis presents in the “Misericordia Vultus” (The face of mercy) reminding Christians that “Mercy of God is identity card”.
In this spirit, the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of the Philippines, are guiding the Catholics to celebrate the 500 years of Christianity. This is also a time to ask forgiveness for the sins of the Church in general and in the Philippines in the last 500 years.
Recognizing mistakes in history, we are also called to remind all that we are not responsible of the past mistakes, but we are challenged to face today, with humility, the real message of Jesus remembering that Advent and Christmas are special times for the “conversion of God’s love and mercy”.
The reality of the COVID19 with all the implications among the many problems is teaching all, people of different cultures and religions, that we belong to one “Human family” and we have one common creator.
Meanwhile, we accept the mysterious plan of God that makes all of us different in many ways, including our religions. We, Christian members of Silsilah, wish to reaffirm our commitment for dialogue and peace and to continue to be a “link” (Silsilah) among all. In a special way, we recognize the sins of the Christians, especially against indigenous people and Muslims who, in some occasions, have forgotten that they are Christians and Mercy has to remain always, “God’s identity Card” of the Christians in living and sharing their faith to others.
The Silsilah legacy from 1984 up to now remains to promote in us the spirituality of life-in-dialogue with God, the self, others and creation with the hope that together we can create a new culture in our society that is the “Culture of Dialogue” inviting all to work together for harmony, solidarity and peace. This call becomes more urgent now with COVID 19.
May this special time of the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines, starting with this time of Advent, bring a new horizon of love and solidarity with all people of different cultures and religions.
-Silsilah Dialogue Movement