Hundreds of parishioners filled St. Ann Church in Arlington
March 3 to hear Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle of Manila,
Philippines, speak on good, evil, renewal and conversion.
In the spirit of the new evangelization, Cardinal Tagle’s
homily was a treatise on conversion and renewal during the
season of Lent.
“No one can say that we do not need conversion,” said the
cardinal. “We are all in need of renewal.”
The cardinal went on to discuss the eternal topics of good
versus evil. It’s a good thing to avoid evil, the cardinal
said, but sometimes people avoid evil because they’re not
doing anything.
“Complaining about evil is not enough,” he said. “Evil will
prosper if we do not do good.”
The cardinal said that many times people see evil in everyone
and everything. We can be like the Pharisees of the Bible, he
said, condemning people, but being guilty of the same
transgressions.
Cardinal Tagle said that as Catholics we need to practice
humility and not draw attention to ourselves. He said we must
be consistent in what we preach and what we do.
The cardinal concluded his homily with a simple phrase,
“Resist evil, do good.”
Parishioner Elly Escobal said the cardinal’s visit was
important to the parish. She said the cardinal is dedicated
to the Philippine people.
Parishioner Gigi Montgomery said the cardinal’s visit and
homily were “awesome.”
“We’re so blessed. I think this is such an honor,” said
Montgomery.
Femilia Riguera has heard Cardinal Tagle speak before.
“He always has a beautiful sermon,” she said.
Two typhoons hammered the Philippines over the last two
years. Massive Typhoon Haiyan wracked the Philippines in
2013, and Typhoon Hagupit slammed the islands last year.
Pope Francis visited the Philippines in January, and part of
the trip was spent with storm victims.
The storms were on the minds of many parishioners who had
friends and relatives still in the Philippines.
Cardinal Tagle said the pope’s visit was a blessing for the
Philippine people after all their anguish.
“The people felt solidarity after suffering through the
typhoons,” he said.
There was a reception after the Mass, and parishioners
jockeyed for position to talk to the cardinal.
Missionhurst Father Ramel O. Portula, pastor, kept the
parishioners in an orderly line for the food and to speak to
Cardinal Tagle. He understood the attraction of the cardinal.
“He is a bishop that personifies what Pope Francis preaches,”
he said. We are very blessed for his visit.”
The cardinal spoke at Catholic University in Washington March
2.
