THE message of President Duterte on the feast of the Immaculate Conception last DeĀcember 8 was very inspiring. He said, āThe Blessed Virgin Maryās exemplary life of piety and virtue honored today by our Catholic faithful nourishes the spirituality of our people as they in turn beĀcome agents of compassion and justice in our society.ā * * *
Let me, however, make some personal observations on the Presidentās message in connecĀtion with his resolve not to renew the franchise of ABS-CBN which will expire in March, 2020. Isnāt the President contradicting his message that our people should be inspired by the Immaculate Conception āto become agents of compassion and justiceā?
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By not renewing the franchise, does he not think that he would be depriving over 10 thousand employees of their jobs who are working here and abroad? Whereās the Presidentās comĀpassion?
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Pres. Duterteās justification for not renewing the franchise is because ABS-CBN was partiĀsan in the last presidential elecĀtion, citing that it did not air his political advertisements which were āalready paidā but aired instead those of the opposition candidates.
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Granting that ABS-CBN comĀmitted a blunder, the President has the right to file legal chargĀes anytime. But is the offence so grave as to warrant a closure of the giant station? To my mind, the non-renewal of the franchise is not proportionate to the penĀalty incurred.
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According to the universal law and quoting a renowned moral theologian, Daniel L. Lowery, āA just punishment must be proĀportionate to the degree of perĀsonal guilt.ā
May the Immaculate ConcepĀtion enlighten and guide our President in all his decisions.
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SUNDAY REFLECTION: REĀJOICE, BE JOYFUL
A friend of mine would conĀclude his letter with this quip: āDonāt take life too seriously; youāll never come out of it alive!ā
We should paraphrase that, saying: āDonāt take life too seriĀously; Jesus Christ saved you.ā
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While itās true that we should not take life and our problems TOO seriously, we should do our part in saving ourselves. As the dictum goes: āDo your best and God will do the rest.ā
Thatās the message of this 3rd Sunday of Advent called āGauĀdete Sunday.ā Gaudete means ārejoice,ā ābe joyful.ā
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During the time of John the Baptist, people did not know Who or where the Messiah was.
John the Baptist, Christās foreĀrunner, exclaimed in todayās gosĀpel: āThere is one among you whom you do not know.ā He was referring to Jesus Christ.
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How about our modern times? Would the Baptist address his indictment to us?
Why is it that in our celebration of Christmas we are so much engrossed with Christmas shopping, gift-giving, eating and drinking that we forget the reason why weāre doing all this?
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Or, why donāt we recognize him in our fellowmen especially among the poor, the marginalized, those who have no voice in society for whom Jesus said: āWhatever you did to the least of my brethren, you did to meā?
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Advent is an opportune time for us to renew our faith in Jesus. He is the main character, the central figure of all our Christmas celebrations.
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THE LIGHTER SIDE. There are four stages in a manās life. First, when he believes in Sta. Claus. Second, when he doesnāt believe in Sta. Claus anymore. Third, when he IS Sta. Claus. Fourth, when he LOOKS like Sta. Claus.
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A husband gifted his wife with a bracelet. When the wife asked him why the surprise gift, he replied, āA four-letter word made me do it.ā āYou mean āLOVE?ā she asked. āNo,ā he responded, āSALE.ā
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FAMILY TV MASS ā is aired on 5PLUS Channel 59 at 6-7a.m. every Sunday and at YouTube on āThe Filipino Catholic.ā Sponsor: ANDOKāS LITSON CORP., QC, Presider: Rev. Fr. Arnold Abelardo, CMF.
The FAMILY that prays together stays together.