If Only

Written by Zhey Chua |Posted on January 9, 2009 | Comments

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The photo above shows what Metro Manila looked like today.

According to the news, almost a million Catholics flocked to the Quirino Grandstand to hear mass and participate in the procession, which lasted thirteen hours, in commemoration of the feast of the Black Nazarene.

Last night, I could not help but feel heartsick as I watched people gather in Luneta to wait for Friday morning. Thousands patiently waited in line for hours just to get close to the image and pay homage to it by kissing its feet or face, others wiped towels and scarves or touched with reverence the hem of the image’s skirt. And it was just… unsettling. I sat infront of the television feeling revolted at the blatant display of pagan practice YET, I was so grieved to see such voluminous crowd of people worship a false god.

Such zeal, such passion, such love and devotion! What a shame that such fever-pitch high reverence is directed to a mere image made of wood! Oh, what beauty would there be if Christians, true Christians who worship the One and True Living God, would have the courage to shamelessly display such adoration and fanaticism. How edifying it would be if we have the same burning affection, enough to sit through an hour and a half or two hour preaching or perhaps, walk a a good distance to share the good news of salvation which we have received by the grace of our God. If only…

(Photo courtesy of Inquirer.Net)